GAME NOTES: The 18th-ranked Michigan State Spartans will try to keep their Big Ten title dreams alive this weekend, as they close out their home slate by hosting the Purdue Boilermakers in East Lansing.

The Spartans are coming off a gritty performance in which they overcame Wisconsin, 25-24, on a late field goal this past weekend. It was the second victory in a row for MSU, which is now 8-2 for just the second time in four decades. At 5-1 within the conference, the Spartans trail only undefeated Penn State for first place in the Big Ten standings and they will lock horns with the Nittany Lions in their regular-season finale. So, if MSU wins its final two games of the regular-season, the program would earn at least a share of the conference championship for the first time since 1990.

"The reality is if we win the last two games, we are at the very least co-Big Ten champs," said head coach Mark Dantonio. "Not many people can say that right now in this country in terms of their conference. That's what's exciting for our football team right now. But the focus has to be on Purdue, and the focus has to be on re-charging and getting our emotions in check, and re- focusing tomorrow."

As for Purdue, it hasn't enjoyed a great deal of success this season, especially in conference play where it has gone just 1-4. That lone victory however, came last weekend, a thrilling 48-42 triumph over Michigan. The victory put the breaks on a lengthy five-game slide and kept the team's slip chances alive for an 11th bowl bid in 12 seasons under head coach Joe Tiller. The Boilermakers must win out in order to become bowl eligible, so they are obviously going to need to snap their 18-game winless streak against Top 25 teams to keep hope alive for the postseason.

Saturday's game represents the 61st encounter between MSU and Purdue on the gridiron, with the Spartans clinging to a 29-28-3 edge in the series. The Boilermakers though, have won seven of the last nine meetings, including the past two in Spartan Stadium.

Unlike years past, Purdue has struggled to produce on offense in 2008, averaging a modest 23.3 ppg. The team is gaining a decent 374.3 total ypg, but that number has been overshadowed by the club's 20 turnovers.

Last weekend however, the Boilermakers put forth a great effort on offense, as they racked up 522 total yards, including 256 on the ground, in a 48-42 win over Michigan. Leading the charge was Kory Sheets, who rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns, while also grabbing three passes for 43 yards and another score. The quick and elusive back has been a bright spot for this team and he has rushed for 924 yards and 13 touchdowns, to go along with 29 catches and 222 receiving yards.

Another player that stepped up last weekend was quarterback Justin Siller, who earned the start for the injured Curtis Painter. Siller, in his first career start, completed 21-of-34 pass attempts for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He also combined with Greg Orton and Desmond Tardy on a 28-yard hook-and-ladder play that resulted in the game-winning touchdown from Tardy with just 26 seconds left. Siller may get another chance to start this weekend, as Painter is listed as questionable with a separated right shoulder. Whomever is under center will be looking in the direction of Orton, the team's leading wide out with 54 catches and 610 yards. Along with helping set up the game-winning score last weekend, Orton pulled down eight balls for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Slowing down opposing clubs on a consistent basis has been an issue for the Boilermakers this season, as they are giving up 27.6 ppg and 384.8 total ypg. The defense is being abused for 175.8 ypg on the ground and has forced a mere 11 turnovers.

Last weekend, Purdue did a solid job in holding Michigan to just 300 total yards, but the 42 points its allowed was far from good. The defense though, did manage three sacks, bringing its total to 22 for the year. Ryan Kerrigan accounted for each of those sacks and he also had a forced fumble and a team- best 10 tackles. It was certainly a great effort from Kerrigan, who paces the Boilermakers with six sacks and 7.5 TFLs for the season.

The Spartans are a team that likes to grind it out on the ground and they have rushed the ball 411 times this season compared to 289 pass attempts. The squad is producing a solid 148.0 ypg via the run and is paced Javon Ringer, who leads the NCAA in rushing touchdowns (18) and ranks second in rushing (142.7 ypg). Ringer though, is coming off his worst effort of the season, as he toted 21 times for just 54 yards in a win over Wisconsin last weekend. However, he did score twice, as MSU overcame its mere 25 rushing yards as a team to win the game on a 44-yard field goal by Brett Swenson with just seven seconds left. Quarterback Brian Hoyer helped set up that late kick, but for the game he completed only 19-of-44 tosses for 252 yards.

"It's special and I know Coach [Dantonio] comments all the time that that's where quarterbacks are judged," stated Hoyer. "And the biggest stat in my book is wins and losses so the stats from today might not look pretty, but we're 8-2. And to take the team down and give them the opportunity to win, that's my job and that's what I expect of myself."

Hoyer has made some big plays when needed, but overall he hasn't produced up to expectations, completing only 49.4 percent his pass attempts with a mere nine touchdowns on the season. Blair White, the team's leading wideout with 30 catches, was Hoyer's top option last weekend, snaring seven balls for 164 yards.

Defensively, MSU has fared well to keep the opposition out of the end zone, allowing just 20.7 ppg. The unit has given up a few too many yards, surrendering 354.7 total ypg, but has made up for that by forcing 21 turnovers.

Last weekend, however, the Spartans were only able to come up with one takeaway, as they allowed 430 total yards to Wisconsin. The defense permitted 281 of those yards on the ground and that is well above its season-average of 152.5 rushing ypg. Greg Jones led MSU in the win with 13 stops and his 88 tackles on the season are 23 more than the next closest player on the roster. Trevor Anderson is another player worth noting, as he paces the Spartans in both sacks (eight) and TFLs (9.5 TFLs).

The Spartans are coming off a lackluster effort that nearly cost them a shot at the Big Ten title. Don't expect the same this weekend though, as Ringer and company should come out energized in front of their home crowd and claim the victory with a stout effort on the ground.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Michigan State 30, Purdue 15