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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 – NOVEMBER 05: Le’Veon Bell #24 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes with the football while pursued by Aaron Hill #57 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on a play in the third quarter of the game at Spartan Stadium on November 5, 2011 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Gophers 31-24. (Photo by Mark A. Cunningham/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 05: Le’Veon Bell #24 of the Michigan State Spartans rushes with the football while pursued by Aaron Hill #57 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on a play in the third quarter of the game at Spartan Stadium on November 5, 2011 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Gophers 31-24. (Photo by Mark A. Cunningham/Getty Images) /

October 14: @ Minnesota

If Big Ten slugfests are your thing, this Michigan State-Minnesota game is for you. P.J. Fleck will want to run the ball and Minnesota’s offense is built to run the ball behind two good backs: Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.

Michigan State’s defense isn’t really built to stop the run. Granted, the Spartans’ defense isn’t built to stop much of anything, but they certainly won’t be able to hold up under four quarters of Minnesota pounding the rock.

Michigan State, for their part, can also run the ball and Minnesota has depth questions of their own in their front seven, which will make this game close. I’m tempted to say that the Spartans will win this one, but their front seven is just not good. In a game of few possessions, Minnesota will get a few stops that the Spartans won’t and get a little boost for being at home. Minnesota 27 – Michigan State 17 (2-4)

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