It’s been an off-season to forget for the Michigan State Spartans football team. As if finishing 3-9 a year ago wasn’t enough for those in East Lansing, the program went through a litany of off-the-field situations regarding some key personnel, both players and coaches included.
It all came to a reported end earlier this month when three now-former MSU players were charged with criminal sexual conduct amongst other allegations. The removal of these players will have a serious trickle-down effect with regards to players having to step up in their departures. Add in the fact that the Spartans may have the most difficult schedule in FBS this season, coupled with having one of the least-experienced teams in the country, head coach Mark Dantonio and his staff may be in for another rough season.
We’re going to go game by game and, via the always reliable ‘spitball’ method, see how much better, or worse, MSU will do in 2017.
1GAME 1 | SEPTEMBER 2 vs. BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green went just 4-8 a season ago averaging nine wins per campaign over the previous four seasons. One could argue that given their recent success in the Mid-American conference. They also enter 2017 with a recruiting class that ranks 2nd in the MAC.
It’ll be a battle between two teams desperately wanting to start the new year on the right foot. This should ultimately come down the MSU being more talented in terms of overall personnel on the field, players and coaches.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brian Lewerke will get the call to start for the Spartans and will deliver an error-free game.
[the_ad id=”80408″]
PREDICTION: MSU, 30-10 / RECORD: 1-0
2GAME 2 | SEPTEMBER 9 vs. WESTERN MICHIGAN
The P.J. Fleck era in Kalamazoo has come and gone, and so has a lot of the talent he recruited, developed and produced. He heads off for the Twin Cities and taking over as new head coach of the Broncos is former WMU quarterback Tim Lester.
Lester will inherit a still pretty decent Broncos team, namely in the running game on offense. Western should still boast a respectable defense too. They are also welcoming in the fourth-best recruiting class in the MAC.
Look for Michigan State to move to 2-0 in the season, but don’t be terribly surprised if WMU makes it interesting against an in-state foe and smelling upset.
PREDICTION: MSU, 24-7 / RECORD: 2-0
3GAME 3 | SEPTEMBER 23 vs. NOTRE DAME
With a bye in Week 3, Michigan State will have two weeks to prepare for the latest chapter in the rivalry against Notre Dame, who, like the Spartans, will be clambering for a bounce-back season.
The Irish will assuredly have some pressure to be a contender again, after Brian Kelly endured his first losing season a year ago. Now entering his eighth year, any more setbacks and his seat will get even hotter than it did in 2016.
As always, Notre Dame unloads and reloads in talent every year as good as any other program in the country. It could make for a fun showdown in East Lansing. Expect a close one.
PREDICTION: MSU, 20-17 / RECORD: 3-0
4GAME 4 | SEPTEMBER 30 vs. IOWA
5GAME 5 | OCTOBER 7 at MICHIGAN
6GAME 6 | OCTOBER 14 at MINNESOTA
Dantonio and the Spartans will get their first crack at the aforementioned Fleck-led Golden Gophers, staying on the road.
Minnesota has been a largely solid, steady program in recent years, nine games over .500 since 2012. They’ve been a ground-and-pound type of program during that time too, so it will be interesting to see how much, if at all, Fleck alters that mantra in Minneapolis.
These are two teams dealing with a lot of roster turnover from a year ago. MSU has won four straight in the all-time series, but haven’t played since 2013. Initial gut says Sparty can steal one here on the road before heading back home.
PREDICTION: 27-24 / RECORD: 4-2
7GAME 7 | OCTOBER 21 vs. INDIANA
8GAME 8 | OCTOBER 28 at NORTHWESTERN
Back on the road MSU goes, making the short drive out to metro Chicago for a date with Northwestern.
The Wildcats took a step back in 2016, going .500 and winning their bowl game after piling up 10 wins the year before. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald continues to make Northwestern a relevant and competitive program in the Big Ten, and definitely a player in that West Division.
Here’s another instance where depth and experience take over and propel Northwestern to a win. All but three of their projected starters entering 2017 are upperclassmen (junior or senior). MSU will make it a game for 60 minutes, but the ‘Cats pull away late.
PREDICTION: NW, 27-17 / RECORD: 5-3
9GAME 9 | NOVEMBER 4 vs. PENN STATE
10GAME 10 | NOVEMBER 11 at OHIO STATE
11GAME 11 | NOVEMBER 18 vs. MARYLAND
Now in the midst of a three-game losing skid, Michigan State will happily return home for ‘Senior Day’ and the home finale of 2017 against Maryland.
The Terrapins fared adequate a year go finishing 6-7, considering D.J. Durkin was in his first year as head coach and claiming a program that needed a change across the board. It’ll be interesting to see how they follow up this season, especially with a top-4 recruiting class in the conference, easily their highest-rated crop of recruits since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
Maryland picked up their first win vs. MSU as a member of the Big Ten last season. The Terps are flooded with experienced players across the board, could bode well for them in picking up a big road win. But a ‘Senior Day’ matinee for a Spartans team that gradually improved throughout the year will snap the losing skid
PREDICTION: MSU, 23-20 / RECORD: 6-5
12GAME 12 | NOVEMBER 25 at RUTGERS
Already by most accounts, the season will have been considered a commendable bounce-back type of year in East Lansing. Having earned a spot back in a bowl game the week before, momentum is back in favor of Michigan State.
Perhaps a road game against Rutgers will be the ideal remedy. The lowly Scarlet Knights have gradually regressed with each season in the Big Ten (8 wins in 2014, 4 wins in 2015, 2 wins in 2016. It’ll be hard to project them improving much, if at all, particularly given the division they play in.
Look for MSU to come out virtually worry-free. Dantonio and the Spartans cap off a rather remarkable 2017 season and ultimately put 2016 six feet under, for good.
PREDICTION: MSU, 31-13 / RECORD: 7-5
[the_ad_group id=”20856″]
