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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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Oct 3, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Zander Diamont (12) runs by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) in the fourth quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Zander Diamont (12) runs by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) in the fourth quarter of their game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports /

Week Four: Michigan State (3-0) @ Indiana, October 1 

Series History: First meeting in 1922, Michigan State leads the series 45-15-2.

What Happened Last Time: 2015: Michigan State won 52-26.

The Indiana Hoosiers:

Indiana fans shed enough tears last season to water every cornfield from Elkhart to Evansville. The Hoosiers lost heartbreakers to Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan before losing another close one to Duke in the Pinstripe Bowl, all while finishing second in the Big Ten in scrappy effort plays, behind only Northwestern.

The departure of some NFL team’s future Kellen Moore, quarterback Nate Sudfeld, leaves Zander Diamont as the likely starter under center.

Dude’s got wheels, but he’s only thrown 31 passes in his career and completed about half of them. He filled in admirably for Indiana against Ohio State after Sudfeld went down before himself getting knocked out of the Penn State game next week, but the former three-star recruit lacks game experience and has junior Richard Lagow breathing down his neck on the depth chart.

The rest of the offense looks pretty solid. The team’s top four receivers from 2015 are returning, as are three starting linemen and Devine Redding, one of two 1,000-yard rushers from last season.

The infamously porous defense is on its third coordinator since Kevin Wilson took over as head coach, led this season by former South Florida defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Allen’s 4-2-5 defense fits Indiana’s personnel, as they return just about everyone from their linebacker and defensive back units. The biggest question mark for the Hoosiers will be the defensive line, which lacks depth and experience.

Forecast:

Indiana can score points against just about anyone, but the defense has not improved significantly, especially up front. Last season Connor Cook threw for four touchdowns while the Spartans put up over 500 yards of offense, and there is no reason to expect a different result this year. Michigan State will be able to run the ball and control the game from the outset, and they will outpace the Hoosiers to claim the Old Brass Spitoon for the eighth time in a row.

Final Prediction:

Michigan State: 42

Indiana: 24

Should I Watch It?: Two decent offenses will make this one entertaining, but Michigan State should pull away in time for you to switch it over to one of three top-25 matchups that will also be on.

Season Record: 4-0

Next: Week Five: v. Brigham Young

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