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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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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: Head coach Jim Harbaugh Michigan Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans prior to the game at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: Head coach Jim Harbaugh Michigan Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans prior to the game at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

October 7: @ Michigan

Be nice to Michigan fans for a while, Spartans. Big brother is back.

Jim Harbaugh‘s Michigan teams these days are like Bill Cowher’s old Pittsburgh Steelers teams, they don’t rebuild, they reload. There’s a lot of turnover here, but there’s a ton of talent, too.

Wilton Speight‘s not a world-beater. He had the benefit of a great supporting cast last season and will again this season, but he’s got a year as a starter under his belt under one of the nation’s best quarterback coaches and is fully healthy. Michigan should have little trouble throwing the ball against a bad Michigan State secondary, which will complement their solid ground game.

Defensively, Michigan had one of the best units in the nation last year. Again, they lost a lot of guys, including several draft picks, but the Wolverines bring back a few players who were productive in 2016 and a slew of capable young guys who have been waiting their turn.

Michigan has its sights set on Penn State and Ohio State further down the road, so this game could set up as a trap game, much like Iowa was a season ago and frankly, as Michigan State nearly was. But Michigan is clearly the better team here. Michigan 34 – Michigan State 13 (2-3)

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