Michigan State Football: Score predictions vs. Furman
What will be the final score as Michigan State football opens the season Friday night with the Furman Paladins?
As we open the season Friday night, Michigan State football will look to make a strong statement — if that’s possible — against the FCS’ Furman Paladins. Although Furman was just 4-7 last season and gave up over 400 yards per game, this won’t be a game to overlook.
Must Read: MSU Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2016 season
College football fans learned Thursday night that no team should be overlooked as the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers nearly dropped their home opener against Appalachian State.
Let’s take a look at what our writers believe will happen on Friday night in East Lansing.
Connor Muldowney: How will the Tyler O’Connor era start for Michigan State? Mark Dantonio has named the senior captain the week one starter and chances are, barring a massive meltdown, he will keep that job at least through the Notre Dame game. I see him putting up some big first half numbers and utilizing all targets from Josiah Price to R.J. Shelton to Donnie Corley. Heck, Monty Madaris will even have a big game.
The defense will also look stout, getting back to its 2013 ways with the resurgence of the ‘No Fly Zone.’ Relatively quick, and quiet, victory for the Spartans in front of the football-hugry home crowd.
Furman 10, Michigan State 45
Andrew Erdman: This should be an easy win for the Spartans. Michigan State will jump on the Paladians early and often with the game basically being decided at half time. The running back trio of L.J. Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes will all have good games and will each find the end zone. O’Connor will show why Dantonio put his trust in him and lead his team to an easy victory in the season opener.
Furman 10, Michigan State 38
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Stephen Robb: The Michigan State defense will dominate and Spartan Nation will breathe a sigh of relief with O’Connor at the helm. London rips Furman for at least 100 yards, Scott scores a touchdown but is overshadowed by the former’s big-play ability. Donnie Corley shows everyone that the hype is real as he scores a touchdown.
Furman 7, Michigan State 45
Michael Briggs: Furman is the last FCS program that Michigan State will play following the Big Ten’s rule change that mandates conference members play nine conference games and three non-conference games against FBS opponents. Don’t expect the Spartans to go easy on the Paladins, though.
While Furman won’t be intimidated by the big stage after games at Virginia Tech, South Carolina, LSU, Clemson and Florida in recent seasons, those results don’t suggest the Paladins will be ready to slug it out, either (combined margin of defeat was 226-68). Furthermore, the Paladins haven’t exactly been the class of the FCS with 4-7 and 3-9 records the past two seasons.
Michigan State, while replacing key pieces on offense, should have little issue moving the ball against Furman. With a considerably deeper team (FCS programs are permitted 22 less scholarships than FBS) and much more talent, this is to be expected. However, the Paladins’ base defense — a 4-2-5 “over” — may be just as detrimental to the Paladins’ upset wishes, as this five defensive back formation tends to be better suited for spread attacks than punishing running games like MSU’s.
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Expect Michigan State’s three co-starters, Scott, London and Holmes, to run wild all night and draw the defense up enough for O’Connor to pick his spots, too.
This one will get out of hand early and won’t offer much insight into Michigan State’s 2016 season outlook, but Spartan fans will cheer just the same.
Furman 6, Michigan State 45