College Football 27 Predicts Michigan State Football Vs. Nebraska

On Saturday, Michigan State football takes on Nebraska to open Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers enter as 5.5-point favorites. With the hours waning until kickoff, there is little else to do besides simulate the games on EA Sports College Football 27.

The Spartans look to re-open head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s Big Ten career with a victory, while Nebraska looks to continue their early season success. It is worth mentioning that Brady Pretzlaff was active for the Spartans in this simulation due to the inability to simulate or add in injuries.

(Note: This was played without a side chosen, as this was strictly simulation.)

Mandatory Reminder: This is a COMPUTER SIMULATION.

First Quarter

The Cornhuskers got the ball to star and drove into the Spartan redzone on the strength of a 20-yard Kwinten Ives rush on the fourth play from scrimmage. On third-and-one on the MSU14, Anthony Colandrea finished the drive with a 13-yard strike to Jacory Barney Jr. to put the Huskers up 7-0.

The Spartans were forced to punt after a single first down in a four-and-out. The Huskers returned it to midfield and had another touchdown within five plays, making it 14-0 before 10 minutes passed in the first quarter.

Alessio Milivojevic played hero ball on the first play of the next drive, throwing the ball deep, but Vincent Shavers Jr. intercepted it and returned it 55 yards to the MSU16. The Spartans held Nebraska to four yards on the drive to force a field goal, but still trailed by three possessions with 3:34 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans and Nebraska exchanged punts, with Milivojevic being sacked on third down by Owen Stoudmire to end the first quarter.

Second Quarter

The Huskers were able to execute on third down multiple times to start their second quarter, with three third down conversions on third-and-five or more. On a play where Isaac Smith got injured, Anthony Colandrea put the Huskers up 24-0 with 9:30 left in the first half.

Milivojevic woke up after trailing early, with 25 yards in two plays to Carson Gulker, before breaking off a 46-yard touchdown run where he shed three tackles. As a reminder, this is a computer simulation that I did not jump in on.

The Spartans went for the extra point instead of a two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 24-7. Nebraska did not like the Spartans’ fast drive, having a four play touchdown drive through the air, capped off by Nyziah Hunter running a slant in from seven yards out.

Following two exchanged punts, the Spartans got momentum on an eight-play drive, with Fredrick Moore getting open for 27 yards and then Cam Edwards punching the ball in from a yard out to make it 31-14.

Nebraska had enough time to run a two minute drill, and they did to perfection, with Colandrea making it 38-14 with 19 seconds to halftime.

The Spartans kneeled it to half.

Third Quarter

Milivojevic came out of the half on fire, leading the team down to the NEB22. Unfortunately, he threw into double coverage, and Donovan Jones was chased down by Cam Edwards at the MSU30 after 6 yards.

Nebraska answered with a methodical 6 minute drive, mostly on their ground game, finished off by a fourth-and-goal quarterback sneak by Colandrea to make it 45-14.

Milivojevic was sacked twice and the Spartans punted after five plays.

The Spartans and Huskers exchanged punts before a Husker drive got the ball to the MSU1 to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Isiah Mozee took the ball in on the first play of the quarter to put Nebraska up 52-14.

Milivojevic had a touchdown drive, with Cam Edwards bursting off a 17 yard run to put the ball in the end zone to cut the Spartan deficit to 31.

Nebraska punted, and Michigan State had a four play scoring drive, capped with a Chrishon McCray post route being uncovered for a 45-yard touchdown.

Eli Coenen provided a clutch third down sack to get the Spartans the ball back with 8:23 to play, but down 24 points.

Milivojevic, in full desperation mode, heaved the ball to McCray from 40 yards out and the receiver caught it over the safety to cut the lead to 16 after Rod Bullard’s stand-in default player caught the two-point conversion.

The Spartans forced a punt with 3:47 to play and down 16 points. In a head-scratching decision, the Spartans handed the ball off on third-and-five and somehow got 41 yards with 3 minutes to play.

Edwards went down injured at the two-minute mark, and Marvis Parrish was called upon. The Spartans punched the ball in with 1:03 to play and all three timeouts left via a Parrish rush. However, the rally ended there after Parrish could not punch the ball in on the two-point conversion.

Or not, as the Spartans punched the ball out when Nebraska ran the ball on second-down, with who else but Eli Coenen recovering the ball. Milivojevic found Bryson Williams for 14 yards, but the time expired after his last Hail Mary was knocked away.

FINAL

Nebraska 52

Michigan State Football 42

Colandrea passed for 375 yards and ran for an additional score in a route-turned near comeback.

Milivojevic responded with 343 yards and his own rushing touchdown to boot.

The simulation Spartans fell to 2-2 with a win that was semi-respectable, but also head-scratching to watch. Never have I ever seen two computer defenses just not show up to play that bad.