PREVIEW: Ohio State Buckeyes seek bounce back vs. Michigan State

Spartans have won their last two games in Columbus

Who: No. 12 Michigan State (7-2, 5-1) at No. 13 Ohio State (7-2, 5-1)

When: Noon Saturday

Where: Ohio Stadium in Columbus

TV/Radio: FOX/1410

Series history: Ohio State leads 30-15. The Buckeyes on 17-16 last season in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans won 17-14 two seasons ago in Columbus. This is the sixth time in the last eight meetings both teams have been ranked in the top 20.

Last game: On Nov. 4, Ohio State lost 55-24 at Iowa, and Michigan State won 27-24 at home against Penn State.

Coaches: Ohio State's Urban Meyer is 68-8 in his sixth season. Mark Dantonio is 97-44 in his 11th season at Michigan State. Dantonio is 3-5 against Ohio State as the Michigan State head coach.

Ohio State notes: The Buckeyes rank 20th in the country in rush offense (235.3 yards per game). … Center Billy Price will break the school record for consecutive starts. This will be his 51st. He tied Luke Fickell last week. … The Buckeyes rank eighth in the nation with 74 tackles for a loss. … Johnnie Dixon leads Ohio State with eight touchdown catches. Four of his last seven catches have been for touchdowns. He ranks third in the nation with 24.2 yards per catch. … Running back J.K. Dobbins averages 101.6 yards per game. … Safety Jordan Fuller leads the team with 52 tackles.

Michigan State notes: Brian Lewerke ranks fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (245.2). … Felton Davis is tied for the Big Ten lead with eight touchdown receptions. … The Spartans rank third in the nation in rush defense (87.0 yards per game). … Michigan State's losses are to Notre Dame (38-17) and Northwestern (39-31 in triple overtime). … The Spartans made the biggest one-year jump in the four-year history of the College Football Playoffs this week, moving from No. 24 to No. 12 after beating Penn State.

Quoted: "A great challenge waits for us down in Ohio," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "We have 26 players from the state of Ohio. Ten of them start for us. It's exciting for them to go down and play in front of really, as close to their hometown probably as they can get, and I'm sure they will be motivated for that."

Next game: On Nov. 18, Ohio State hosts Illinois at either noon or 3:30/4 p.m., and Michigan State hosts Maryland at a time to be announced.

Prediction: Michigan State 30, Ohio State 27

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