Know Thy Enemy: Michigan State vs. Georgia (Outback Bowl)
By bzell
By Brent Zell
Wow. It seems like just yesterday that we were watching Boise State pull away from the Bulldogs in the
season opener and listening to people speculate on changes in Athens. Now, the young Dawgs have the SEC East title on their resume and you’d be hard-pressed to find a team with a brighter future than Georgia.
There is still one last of business for No. 18 Georgia to take care of today, though: the Outback Bowl in Tampa at 1 p.m. EST against No. 12 Michigan State. What kind of challenge does the invaders from Lansing bring to the Bulldogs’ backyard? Let’s find out. And also check out our other game preview here.
MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 10-3
Coming In: Lost its final game, the inaugural Big 10 championship game, to Wisconsin 42-39 Dec. 3 in Indianapolis.
Mascot: The Spartan. One definition of “spartan” is simple and frugal. Which is the exact opposite of what the program has been over the last decade with regards to Spartan Stadium. The school completed a $64 million expansion project to the stadium, adding about 3,000 seats, 24 suites and a 193-seat press box. Also, when it had to replace the playing surface last summer after a U2 concert, they used a sod that’s a blend of four varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and took 26 refrigerated trucks to transport it all.
Well, This Is Interesting: Michigan State lived a bit on the edge this season, being involved in four games that were decided by seven points or less. The Spartans won three of those, so they know how to get things done in pressure. And make sure you guard well on the final play.
But Here’s The Thing: The Spartans can be a bit slow out of the gates. In their three losses, the Spartans trailed by double digits at the end of the first quarter, and fell behind Wisconsin 14-0 after one period in the famed Hail Mary game. They also needed 10 straight points in the fourth quarter to beat a struggling Minnesota team at home. This bears watching against Georgia, which outscored opponents 105-27 in the first quarter this season.
Watch This Player: It’ll be hard to physically miss Spartans defensive end William Gholston, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 280 pounds. He also stands out in terms of impact. So far this season, he has 11 tackles for loss and three sacks, shining for a Michigan State defense that had a league-high 41 sacks and finished fifth in the nation in total defense. He can be a key player today, as long as he doesn’t get all punchy again.
Coverage: ABC (TV); ESPN Radio; Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network (Affiliate List); GeorgiaDogs.com (Gametracker)