Numbers that matter No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Mi

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Numbers that matter No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Mi

No. 2 Ohio State (12-0) meets No. 10 Michigan State (11-1) in the Big Ten championship. Let's go inside the numbers to see who has an advantage.Urban Meyer vs. Mark DantonioMeyer is 24-0 at Ohio State. Enough said, right? He went 2-1 in conference championship games against the SEC during his Charlie Coyle Jersey time at Florida. Dantonio, a former defensive coordinator at Ohio State from 2001-03, is 1-3 against the Buckeyes since taking over at Michigan State.MORE: Key matchup: Carlos Hyde vs. Michigan State LBsHyde led the Buckeyes with 1,249 yards and 12 TDs in Big Ten play, and averaged an amazing 7.2 yards per carry. The Spartans led by Denicos Allen and Max Bullough limited Hyde to 11 carries for 49 yards last season. Allen and Bullough have combined for 24 tackles for lo s this season.Key matchup: Chris Stewart Jersey Bennie Fowler vs. Bradley RobyFowler, who leads Michigan State with 16.0 yards per reception, must stretch Ohio State's secondary, led by cornerback Bradley Roby. Wisconsin's Jared Abbrederis (10 catches, 207 yards, TD) and Michigan's Jeremy Gallon (9 catches, 175 yards, TD) torched the Buckeyes. Fowler needs to have the same impact on intermediate cro sing routes.HAYES: Production from RB Jeremy Langford can help Spartans QB Connor Cook and the pa sing game. (AP Photo)On the spot: Connor Cook, QB, Michigan StateCook doesn't have the dynamic playmaking ability of Ohio State's Braxton Miller, but he does two things well. Cook never threw more than one interception in a game, and he's never taken more than two sacks. If both of those things happen and Jeremy Nino Niederreiter Jersey Langford (seven straight 100-yard games) finds running room, then the Spartans are in good shape.On the spot: Devin Smith, WR, Ohio StateSmith caught the game-deciding 63-yard TD against Michigan State in 2012, and he'll get one-on-one opportunities against cornerback Darqueze Dennard, who has four interceptions. Dennard is considered the best cover cornerback in the Big Ten. How many deep Jason Zucker Jersey shots will Miller take?Stat that matters: Yards per rushing attemptStrength on strength. Ohio State leads the nation with 7.0 yards per rushing attempt led by the amazing tag-team of Miller and Hyde. The Spartans lead the nation in rushing defense and allow just 2.2 yards per carry. That alone makes this matchup must-see TV.MORE: | Stat that matters: Second-quarter scoringMichigan State makes its move in the second quarter, where it outscores opponents 120-57. The Buckeyes are just as good in the second quarter, outscoring opponents 146-74. Once the emotion of the first quarter wears off, can the Spartans settle in? The team with the lead at halftime can dictate tempo in the second half.MORE: | Remember thisThe last two meetings between Ohio State and Michigan State have been decided by a total of four points.Bottom lineThe Spartans can spoil the Buckeyes' national championship dreams, much like they did in a 28-24 upset in 1998. Dantonio was the Spartans' defensive backs coach that year. Michigan State can play with Ohio State, but they can't play from behind. If the Buckeyes get hot early, it could snowball. If Alex Stalock Jersey it's a one-score game in the fourth quarter, watch out for the upset.
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