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Line key for Notre Dame vs. Michigan State

Notre Dame center Braxston Cave snapped the ball on a third-and-6 play early in the game against Purdue, put a quick hit on defensive tackle Kawann Short, then stepped to the right — allowing Short to race up the middle and sack Irish quarterback Everett Golson for a 9-yard loss.

‘‘That was all on me,’’ Cave said. ‘‘I just slid the wrong way.’’

It was the kind of mistake the offensive line made all too often last weekend as it struggled in a 20-17 victory against Purdue, allowing four sacks as the Irish rushed for just 53 yards a week after amassing 293 yards rushing in an easy win against Navy. The linemen are looking for redemption Saturday night when they go up against No. 10 Michigan State’s tough defensive line, led by William Gholston.

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‘‘It’s a huge opportunity,’’ Cave said. ‘‘We just have to go out there and play our game.’’

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly believes line play will be key when the No. 20 Irish play the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich., saying a play or two could make the difference. Nine of the last 12 games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less.

‘‘I think it’s still going to come down to winning up front in this game. I think the team that can control the football, minimize the turnovers, is going to be the team that has the best chance to win,’’ Kelly said.

During the past 15 seasons, the team that has run the ball more successfully has won 13 times. Last year, the Irish won, 31-13, rushing for 114 yards while holding the Spartans to 29 yards on the ground. A year earlier, the Spartans held a 203-92 advantage in rushing in beating the Irish, 34-31, with a touchdown pass off a fake field goal in overtime.

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No. 18 Florida is running the ball early and often, a slow-down, ground-and-pound attack featuring senior Mike Gillislee. No. 23 Tennessee is throwing it all over the field, relying on junior Tyler Bray to direct an up-tempo, often no-huddle offense.

The contrasting styles are working to perfection for the Southeastern Conference rivals. Whichever teams keeps it going Saturday should have a big advantage in the Eastern Division showdown.

‘‘They’re going to want it slow and we’re going to want it fast,’’ Tennessee coach Derek Dooley said.

Gillislee finished last week’s win at Texas A&M with a groin injury. Gators coach Will Muschamp insists Gillislee will be fine for Saturday’s contest in Knoxville, Tenn.

Some SEC followers believe Bray has a chance to be the Vols’ best signal-caller since Peyton Manning. ‘‘He can make all the throws,’’ Muschamp said.

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Southern Cal quarterback Matt Barkley is 0-3 against Stanford, but on Saturday he’ll go up against Josh Nunes, not Andrew Luck, who led the Cardinal to a triple-overtime thriller a year ago at the Coliseum. “I don’t expect anything less this year,’’ said Barkley, who leads the nation with 10 touchdown passes.