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Michigan State Football: 2016 Game-by-Game Predictions

By Colton Wesley

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates with his team after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates with his team after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (33) runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (33) runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Week Two: Michigan State (1-0) @ #10 Notre Dame, September 17

Series History: First meeting in 1897, Notre Dame leads the series 48-28-1.

What Happened Last Time: 2013: Notre Dame won, 17-13.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish:

And into the fire we go. The Spartans will have two weeks to prepare for the renewal of one of the Midwest’s best rivalries. The Megaphone is back in circulation after collecting dust in one of Notre Dame’s football shrines for the past three years. Not only that, the game marks the 50th anniversary of one of college football’s most blatant cheap tricks or brilliant tactical decisions, depending on which shade of green you prefer. The specter of the 1966 10-10 tie between then-#1 Notre Dame and #2 Michigan State will doubtlessly be a talking point throughout coverage of the game, which will be broadcast nationally on NBC.

The Irish are coming off of an excellent season under Brian Kelly, going 10-3 while losing two games that they could just as easily have won against two of the top teams in the country (Clemson and Stanford). DeShone Kizer filled in more than admirably at quarterback for the injured Malik Zaire after the latter broke his ankle in week two. Now the two are competing for the starting job and both will play against Texas in week one as Kelly tries to figure out whom to start.

Notre Dame will need to replace a lot of players on offense, including NFL-bound receiver Will Fuller and running back C.J. Prosise, three starters on the offensive line and suspended tight end Alizé Jones. Josh Adams and 2014 leading running back Tarean Folston return, which helps, but it remains unclear who exactly Kizer or Zaire will be throwing the ball to. The defense is muddled across the board, having lost some players to the NFL and suspension and returning three presumptive starters (defensive tackle Jarron Jones, safeties Drue Tranquill and Avery Sebastian) who missed a lot of time in 2015 with injury. Not to say that the defense will not be good, it probably will be, but will they have it all figured out by week two?

Forecast:

ESPN projects the Irish to win 8.6 games this year. That seems a bit low. But it also gives them 67% odds to beat Michigan State, which seems a bit high.

Despite the fact that the Irish’s roster is deep with awesome names (Seriously: Kizer, Zaire, Folston, Tranquill, Sebastian and a receiver named Equanimeous St. Brown?), I am going to give the nod to Michigan State in the first of many close, low-scoring games. The Irish are talented, but I am not sure that they have all the pieces together on both sides of the ball by the time the Spartans roll into Notre Dame Stadium.

Final Prediction:

Michigan State: Very few points.

Notre Dame: Slightly fewer points.

Should I Watch It?: A rivalry is being renewed on national television between two top-12 schools celebrating (mourning?) the 50th anniversary of their most famous game. This will be must-see TV.

Season Record: 2-0

Next: Week Three: v. Wisconsin

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