1st quarter recap: Michigan State 0, Michigan 0

Written by BTN.com staff
posted on
10/20/12 @ 3:33pm
in Football, Michigan, Michigan State
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There were more punts than points in the first quarter and the game is tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. With neither team able to move the ball, there were five punts in the quarter.

Michigan has possession at its own 20-yard line to start the second quarter.

Read more from BTN.com’s Tom Dienhart on this game:

Player on the spot: Michigan State QB Andrew Maxwell. He continues to deal with consistency issues. Last week, the junior hit just 12-of-31 passes for 179 yards with no touchdowns and a pick in a 19-16 double-overtime loss at home to Iowa. Running back Le’Veon Ball can do only so much running the ball. The passing game needs to be more consistently productive.

Key matchup: Michigan State linebackers vs. Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. The Spartans ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 8 in the nation vs. the run (91.3 ypg). Max Bullough and Denicos Allen must play tough and be disciplined. MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi knows how to contain Robinson. Michigan State held Robinson to 42 yards rushing last year and 86 in 2010. Robinson leads the Big Ten in rushing and ranks No. 4 in the nation (134.0 ypg). In the last two games, “Shoelace” torched Purdue for 235 yards rushing and Illinois for 128 yards. Can the Spartans contain Robinson again?

Key number: 11th, Maxwell’s rank in passing efficiency in the Big Ten. He’s 100th in the nation. The junior has completed just 54.3 percent of his passes, the lowest of any Big Ten starting quarterback. And he has just six touchdown passes with four picks.

Key note: Michigan State has won the last four meetings. It never has won five in succession over Michigan.

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