This season did not go as Michigan State was hoping, but the Spartans get a chance to finish with a winning record in bowl season.

For the Spartans, Mark Dantonio and company come into the matchup with a 6-6 record. The results this season were a lot like a roller coaster, just with very few high points in conference play. As bad as it has been at times, facing a Power 5 opponent in the bowl game allows Michigan State an opportunity to get some more practice time and potentially a victory heading into 2020.

For Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons have turned into one of the hottest teams in bowl games over the last three seasons. At an 8-4 record heading into the Pinstripe Bowl, Dave Clawson’s team also has a shot to win nine games for the first time since 2007.

Here are five things to know about Wake Forest heading into the matchup:

Bowl warriors

Wake Forest is not a traditional football power sort of school. However, the Demon Deacons are going for a bowl win in a fourth straight year under Clawson. The last win came against Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl, but they also have wins over Texas A&M in the Belk Bowl (2017) and Temple in the Military Bowl (2016). A fourth straight bowl win would extend what is already a program record.

Unique style of offense

The Wake Forest offense is essentially a version of the read-option, but it is unique in that it is really a slowed-down version of the offense. Here is how ex-Florida State head coach Willie Taggart described in a story for the Tallahassee Democrat:

“Their offense is different. They run the ball, they’re going to run the football, but the way they run the football is a little unorthodox compared to how everybody else is,” Taggart said.

“It’s pretty unique in what they’re doing. They’re running the zone read but it’s really slow. The tailback and the mesh with the tailback and quarterback is really slow in how they do it.”

Regardless of the style, it’s effective in its balance. The Deacon offense is averaging nearly 300 yards a game through the air and over 175 yards a game on the ground. Michigan State will have plenty of work to do in order to prepare for a different style of attack in this game.

Questions at QB

As it currently stands, the status for starting QB Jamie Newman is up in the air. Though that could change as we get closer to game time, whether or not Newman or Sam Hartman is starting at QB would likely make a huge impact for the offense. Newman threw for nearly 2,700 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 62.3 percent of his passes. While filling in for Newman, Hartman has completed just 57.9 percent of his passes for 830 yards and four touchdowns. Beyond the throwing aspect, Newman is a much more accomplished rusher and is third on the team with 487 yards and leads the team with six rushing touchdowns.

Banged up WR corps

Wake Forest has had a strong season, but the injuries have piled up down the stretch for the Demon Deacons. Their leading receiver, Sage Surratt, is out for the season with an injury while their third-leading receiver, Scotty Washington, is a player whose status is still up in the air for the game. Between those two players, they account for 18 of Wake Forest’s 28 total receiving touchdowns. Wake Forest does have three running backs with more than 300 yards rushing on the season should they be forced into a more one-dimensional attack, but that would make things incredibly difficult against this Spartan defense.

A standout DL of their own

Much like Michigan State and Kenny Willekes, the Demon Deacons have their own standout defensive lineman in Carlos Basham Jr. On the season, Basham has 53 total tackles, 17 for loss, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles. He finished second in the ACC in tackles for loss and third in sacks. At 6-foot-5 and 275 lbs., Basham is a force to be reckoned with. Brian Lewerke and all of Michigan State’s offense will need to account for him on every snap.