Both Michigan State and TCU will be looking for some redemption in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium after having disappointing seasons.
Last year both teams won 11 games and entered 2012 with BCS aspirations, but instead were relegated to a pre-New Year's Day bowl game. The Spartans opened the season ranked 13th in the nation, but struggled offensively after losing stars of the 2011 team, including quarterback Kirk Cousins and receivers B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin.
"We lost 95 percent of our passing offense from last year, whether it be the quarterback, two tight ends, three wide receivers and a tailback as well," coach Mark Dantonio said to the Associated Press. "So our guys came in inexperienced."
Michigan State went only 6-6 on the year and didn't win any conference home games while going 3-5 in the Big Ten. The Spartans won their first two games over Boise State and Central Michigan, but then lost two of the next three games to Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Following a 31-27 win over Indiana, Michigan State lost four of the nest five games, with the lone win coming against Wisconsin in overtime. The Spartans ended the season on a positive note with a 26-10 victory against Minnesota, but haven't scored more than 31 points in a game since early October.
The defense has been stellar for the Spartans this season, so on Saturday night the biggest issues for Michigan State will come on the offensive side of the ball. The team has played in close games all season, losing only one game by more than four points.
"We haven't had a football game where we've lost in a big way. They've all been close," Dantonio said. "One play here, one play there, we're a different football team.
The Spartans are allowing just 16 points per game, ranked 9th in nation, but are scoring just 20 per contest, ranked 109th in the FBS. Quarterback Andrew Maxwell has struggled to connect with his wide receivers all season and has thrown just 13 touchdowns while completing under 53 percent of his passes, the worst in the Big Ten.
Le'Veon Bell has been the most consistent player for Michigan State on offense, rushing for 1,648 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after rushing for 137.3 rushing yards per game and had a career high 266 yards on the ground in the season finale against Minnesota. The junior has rushed for three touchdowns over the past three games and has had at least 133 yards each game during that span.
The TCU defense will provide a tough matchup for the Spartans after finishing 18th in total defense this season.
The Horned Frogs had a disappointing season not unlike Michigan State after going 11-2 overall and 7-0 in the Mountain West last year. The team has struggled offensively, scoring 29 points per game and have dealt with issues at quarterback after junior Casey Pachall was arrested on suspicion of DWI on Oct. 4.
TCU had won its first four games, but after Pachall entered a treatment program, head coach Gary Patterson turned to freshman Trevone Boykin.
"Obviously it's hard to give up a junior that had been (15-2 in his career)," Patterson said. "But what Trevone has done in this month of December gave him a chance to step back (and get) 13, 14 practices back under his belt to make him better. It's going to help him quite a bit to be able to do that."
The team lost three of the next four games, but rebounded with a 39-38 win at West Virginia in double overtime. The Horned Frogs played four straight games against ranked opponents to fish the year,, including in a 24-17 loss to Oklahoma to end the regular-season.
Boynkin had 1,853 passing yards and 15 touchdowns while starting eight games and threw nine interceptions while completing over 58 percent of his passes. The team had trouble rushing the ball and gained 397 total yards per game, second-worst in the Big 12.
The Michigan State defense will offer a stiff test for Matthew Tucker and the TCU running game. Tucker has rushed for a team-leading five touchdowns, but the Spartans have allowed just five rushing touchdowns all season, tied for second-fewest in the FBS.
PREDICTION: Michigan State 21, TCU 17. Neither team has momentum entering the game after each finished the season by losing two of their last three games and four of their last six. Both teams have been mediocre on offense, but the Spartans have the upper hand with junior Andrew Maxwell at quarterback and Bell in the backfield. Michigan State has a dominating defense allowing just 275 total yards per game and had linebacker Max Bullough and defensive backs Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard all named to the All-Big Ten first team. TCU has a great defense as well, but the points will be scarce in this one and the Spartans have a bit more experience on the offensive side of the ball
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