Midwest Monday: Look who's back in town again

By Kyle Magin

Gameday is coming back to East Lansing Saturday as Ohio State and Michigan State scrap in Spartan Stadium. Let's celebrate:

Man I still think them cats'll play.

Here's the thing, there are some really compelling matchups this week. It's sneaky good. You have the aforementioned B1G opener, The 'Nati and Va. Tech getting together in the nation's capital, the Vols heading in between the hedges and the Horns headed up to Stillwater. Let's get to the games amongst THEY WHO EAT MEAT AND POTATOES.

Ohio State @ Michigan State -3
Both teams come into this game with foul-smelling passing games. The difference is OSU still finds a way to score points—nearly 38 of them per game, as opposed to the Spartans measly 21. OSU's done it against a decidedly easier slate, but still, 4-0 speaks for itself. Last we saw the struggling Spartans, QB Andrew Maxwell's passing game was getting slapped upside the head by Eastern Michigan. They're completing just 57 percent of passes and can't get opposing defenses off Le'Veon Bell's back. They'll have to learn to capitalize through the air in a hurry because the Bucks are vulnerable there—opponents have gained 42 passing first downs against this defense and make up a majority of their offense vs. OSU through the air. IF MSU can continue to play its smothering brand of defense and DE William Gholston is asked to contain and then attack OSU QB Braxton Miller, this could make last year's 10-7 MSU win in the Shoe look like a shootout.

Wisconsin @ Nebraska -13
Just a few weeks ago this line would have seemed outrageous. But now, Wisconsin (3-1) looks lost offensively and are truly missing two graduated first time all-B1G defensive backs on the other side of the ball. The Badger offensive line is getting no push for RB Montee Ball and Co., averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and converting less than a third of third down attempts. The passing game is mired in mediocrity behind new QB Danny O'Brien, and the defense is giving up 245 passing yards per game. Throw enough against the Badgers and something will open up downfield. Nebraska, thankfully for the folks in Madison, still aren't throwing a ton—the Huskers are 66th in the nation in passing yardage, though QB Taylor Martinez has been completing a fairly efficient 70.7 percent of his throws. He's backed up by an incredibly solid run game led by Ameer Abdullah, averaging more than 6 yards per carry. If he can get to the second level on Wisconsin's defense often enough, look for things to open up deep for Martinez.

Minnesota @ Iowa -7
Iowa is a piddly-shit program who may or may not have lost this blogger money in a BLOWOUT LOSS to CENTRAL MICHIGAN last Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. I won't get into much more than a few stats on the 2-2 Hawkeyes—they converted only 30 percent of third downs vs. a MAC defense last week and got beaten 36-23 minutes in time of possession. Playing keep away is an effective strategy vs. these "Forrest's IQ is below this line, Mrs. Gump" Iowa schoolyard defenders. A questionable D-line just isn't getting a push and the defensive backs are continuing last year's tradition of sucking ass. Minnesota, on the other hand, has beaten four solid if not spectacular opponents behind a surprisingly strong D-line, led by D.L. Wilhite and his astounding 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss on the young season. Sophomore QB Max Shortell has been an effective shepherd for a middling offense, but if they keep getting stellar defensive help, I like this line as much as any you'll see all week.