Michigan State Football: Game by game predictions for 2015 season

Oct 11, 2014; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (16) runs through the tackle of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Anthony Brown (9)at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a tough couple of seasons for Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell as he finished 3-9 in 2014 just one season after posting a 1-11 record in his first year with the Boilermakers. It seems like the only highlight for Purdue football over the past few years is that it was mentioned a couple of times in the 2014 comedy Let’s be Cops — that’s not exactly a big highlight.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: Top 5 remaining 2016 football targets

OK, back to seriousness.

The Boilermakers return junior Austin Appleby under center to lead the offense while the running back situation is a bit clouded, but the potential is there. Senior wide receiver Danny Anthrop has big-play ability, but is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2014 season early.

Purdue’s offense returns eight starters to a unit that ranked just 95th in scoring last season as well as 108th in total yards per game.

As for the defense, it’s returning seven starters, including the entire linebacking crew, to a defense that ranked just 97th in scoring. The run defense is the biggest vulnerability for this team, so expect the Spartans’ four-headed monster to run all over the Boilermakers at home.

London to have a career day? I think so.

Prediction: Purdue 17, Michigan State 38 (5-0)

Next: Week 6: at Rutgers