LIONS TAMERS

EAST LANSING - The only thing standing between Michigan State and the Big Ten championship is a team with the league's best offense, defense and special teams.

That and a place that has been the Spartans' personal detention hall - no fun, all punishment - for seven straight trips dating to 1994.

Any way you want to assess it, No. 17 MSU (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) is an extreme long shot to win at No. 7 Penn State (10-1, 6-1) on Saturday in a title showdown at Beaver Stadium.

Let's say the Spartans and Nittany Lions played this game 10 times. I'd expect three Penn State blowouts (by more than 17 points), three convincing Penn State wins (by 10 to 17 points), three close Penn State wins (single digits), and one narrow upset for the Spartans.

MSU is looking for that game, that combination of flawless play on its side and flawed play on the other side. Heroic individual efforts from several Spartans and some gaffes from the Nittany Lions, giving the MSU program at least a share of its first title since 1990.

"A perfect game?" MSU senior running back Javon Ringer repeated back to a questioner. "At least as close to a perfect game as we can get."

MSU will need some help to win. But that doesn't mean all things are out of the Spartans' control.

There are some measures MSU can take to keep this game close and increase the chances of sneaking away with a victory.

1. Open up the offense.

Through 11 games, it's obvious that MSU is a mediocre running team with a great running back. In fact, this may end up being the least-productive running team of Mark Dantonio's tenure here.

MSU is ninth in the Big Ten with 147.8 yards a game, after finishing third at 198.2 yards a game last season. Only Minnesota has a worse yards-per-carry average than MSU's 3.6.

Ringer is having a special season, but he has little help. And MSU's line has not been able to give Ringer many creases against good run defenses.

Against Cal, Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin, MSU averaged 72 yards a game and 2.3 yards per carry.

Against Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan and Purdue, MSU averaged 196.7 yards a game and 4.2 yards a carry.

Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin are the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 rush defenses in the Big Ten. Guess who's No. 1?

MSU is not going to run at Penn State and succeed Saturday. The Spartans should, dare we say, go to more spread formations, use shotgun and perhaps no-huddle, and let Brian Hoyer get into a rhythm with short passing (as they did midway through the Wisconsin game).

It's supposed to be a cold, but mostly dry, day. Wing it until the Nittany Lions are forced to do something other than stare at Ringer.

2. Block Aaron Maybin.

If you're going to pass, you're going to have to get in the way of No. 59, the Big Ten's best pass rusher (league-high 12 sacks). He is a human missile.

"We're gonna have to do things I'm sure to stay away from him," Dantonio said of Maybin, "and to negate some of the things he does."

Maybin is a weak-side defensive end, which means he lines up on both sides, usually away from the tight end. His speed and moves are too much for MSU's tackles to handle on their own.

In last week's 34-7 Penn State win over Indiana, IU doubled Maybin often and had some success taking him out of plays. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, who got six first downs, other Nittany Lions easily made those plays.

But you have to do it. If MSU doesn't give Maybin extra attention, he will dominate the game.

3. Avoid Derrick Williams.

MSU doesn't kick away from people too often under Dantonio. This would be a good time to do so.

Williams has a pair of touchdowns on kick returns and one on punt returns this season. He's as dangerous in the open field as anyone in the nation.

MSU will have a hard enough time covering him and tracking him down when he runs the ball on direct snaps. The Spartans can't afford to let him break a return - the ultimate crowd pleaser and opponent demoralizer.

4. Tackle, catch the ball, hold onto the ball.

Three things MSU did not do in a 45-7 loss to Ohio State. Three things the Spartans can control and must do to have any chance.

"The mind-set has to be," MSU sophomore linebacker Greg Jones said, "that we can't make any mistakes."

Do all that, batter Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark, force some turnovers, convert deep drives into touchdowns and make the Nittany Lions settle for field goals, and you have your championship, MSU. No problem.