Detroit News predictions: Michigan State vs. Nebraska

Matt Charboneau, Angelique S. Chengelis, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News offer their predictions on the outcome of Saturday's Michigan State vs. Nebraska game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (noon, Fox/760).

Matt Charboneau: Michigan State, once again, is facing an offense that can pile up the yards. But that has been a favorable matchup for the Spartans. The question is, can they move the ball enough to take advantage? Nebraska hasn’t been great on defense and if Michigan State can run the ball like it did against a similar defense at Maryland two weeks ago, it likely will lead to a little more offensive production, something MSU will need in a stadium in which it has won only one time. Michigan State, 27-17

Angelique S. Chengelis: I can’t begin to figure out the quarterback situation at Michigan State, so let’s just stop there. The defense is the Spartans’ strength, no news flash there, and it will be the reason they come out of Lincoln with a victory. Adrian Martinez has tremendous upside and is playing better and better at quarterback for the Cornhuskers, but MSU’s defense will slow him enough, and MSU’s offense will score enough. Michigan State, 17-10

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John Niyo: The quarterback question is one thing. The lack of a run game is another — larger — season-long issue for the Spartans. But Nebraska’s defense falls into the same category. So give the advantage to MSU’s defense on a cold, windy day. Michigan State, 21-17

Bob Wojnowski: Nebraska’s offense has cranked it up as QB Adrian Martinez has gotten healthier and more mobile. Michigan State’s offense is exactly the opposite. Mark Dantonio should start Rocky Lombardi instead of the injured Brian Lewerke, but the way it’s sputtering, it might not matter. The Spartans’ defense will slow Martinez, but it’s not shutting down the Cornhuskers completely. Too much motivation for Nebraska at home. Nebraska, 23-16