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Michigan State football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2017 season

By Colton Wesley

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans and members of the team walk to Spartan Stadium before the start of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans and members of the team walk to Spartan Stadium before the start of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 24, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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September 2: vs. Bowling Green

When you’re coming off a 3-9 season, nothing is guaranteed, even a win over a Bowling Green team that went 4-8 in 2016, losing to Memphis by 74 and Ohio State by 67. In football.

Bowling Green was 1-8 before rattling off three conference wins down the stretch. Their secret? Running the ball. The Falcons ran for nearly 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in their last three games and 614 of those yards are back this season in Josh Cleveland and Donovan Wilson.

Fortunately for the Spartans, three of the Falcons’ starting offensive linemen from a year ago are gone. Unfortunately for the Spartans, their starting defensive line is… uh… does anyone know? Apparently it’s not Demetrius Cooper.

Also bad for Michigan State, it looks like Bowling Green is building a complementary receiving corps to go along with that run game. The Falcons are bringing back most of 2016’s unit and adding a half-dozen three-star newcomers to boot. If only-competent quarterback James Morgan takes a step forward, Michigan State’s defense could be in for a long day. Yeah, against Bowling Green.

On the other side of the ball, Bowling Green is small up front and has a young secondary. If the Spartans will do one thing well this season, it’s run the ball. L.J. Scott and company should have one of their customary big games.

Will the Spartans win against Bowling Green? Yeah, I guess. But I’m not taking the spread in a game that will feature more scoring than Spartans fans would like. Michigan State 31 – Bowling Green 24 (1-0)

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