There's no betting board posted for this one yet, which fits a game where both quarterback situations are still open. The ugliest part of Michigan State's skid came earlier: 27-10 at Notre Dame, 31-13 at home to Nebraska and 31-3 at Wisconsin. The defense eventually tightened up. The offense needs to show it can do that too.
UCLA hasn't been pretty lately. After putting up 52 on Purdue and 54 on Maryland, the Bruins won 17-15 at Oregon and then 17-7 over Wisconsin. They've won the last 2 with defense and by not giving games away. Against Wisconsin, Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods each ran for a touchdown, and the Badgers hurt themselves with 10 penalties for 102 yards, 4 of them on one early drive. Wins like that count the same in the standings, but they don't show much separation.
Michigan State has more than the quarterback to worry about. RB C. Edwards is questionable with a knee injury, and WR C. Taplin was added Saturday with a foot injury. If all 3 sit, the Spartans will be without a big chunk of the offense that scored 37 on Illinois. UCLA lost WR M. Matthews for the season back in September, and CB R. Pleasant and OG J. Davis both missed the Wisconsin game with undisclosed injuries. The early forecast calls for 74 degrees, clear skies and almost no wind, so weather shouldn't decide it. What will: whether UCLA's starting quarterback plays, and whether Michigan State can finish a close game for once.