Michigan State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts on the sidelines during the second quarter of the college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mark Dantonio of the Michigan State Spartans reacts on the sidelines during the second quarter of the college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 27-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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If all goes according to the odds, Michigan State will be 4-6 heading into these final two games. That means two wins are a must if the Spartans want to go bowling. Unfortunately, one of the losses last year came at the hands of the Terrapins with Brian Lewerke starting the game. While the Spartans ran for 270 yards as a team, Lewerke couldn’t get anything done through the air as Maryland used two long fourth-quarter drives to win 28-17.

D.J. Durkin is in his second full season as head coach, but he’ll have to work in a new quarterback in 2017 with the competition still in full force in mid-August. The question at quarterback will keep Maryland from being consistent, but top running backs Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison III are still around. The other thing is the improvement Maryland made defensively last year and it returns seven starters to that group.

Nerves will be high for this game considering last year’s loss, but playing in East Lansing should help Michigan State have the last say. LJ Scott and Lewerke should once again have their way with the Terps, but this time they’ll put up more points.

Score Prediction: Maryland 21, Michigan State 30 (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten)