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Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio: 'We got a win' coming vs. Ohio State

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seemed to guarantee a win over Ohio State during a TV appearance Friday.
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Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seemed to guarantee a win in Saturday's game against Ohio State during an appearance on ESPN's First Take on Friday.

According to the Detroit Free Press' Joe Rexrode, when host Cari Champion asked, "We got a win coming tomorrow, right?" Dantonio responded, "We got a win."

The promise follows two other controversial statements made this week ahead of Saturday's game, which will likely determine the winner of the Big Ten East. On Monday, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said Michigan State isn't a rival, while Michigan State linebacker Taiwan Jonessaid that Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is "way better" than injured starter Braxton Miller, the two-time defending Big Ten player of the year.

Last season, the teams met in the Big Ten Championship Game, with Michigan State coming back from a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to win the game 34-24 and earn a trip to the Rose Bowl.

HAMILTON: OSU quarterback Barrett embraces the spotlight

Big Ten divisional realignment means the Spartans and Buckeyes can't meet in the championship game again this year, but with each team 4-0 in the Big Ten and third-place Maryland already having two losses, the winner of Saturday's game will be in line to win the East.

Michigan State is 7-1 overall this season and No. 8 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings, while Ohio State is also 7-1 and No. 14 in the rankings. Big Ten West teams Nebraska and Wisconsin are No. 13 and No. 25, respectively.

Michigan State and Ohio State meet at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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Ben Estes