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

By Adam Zdroik

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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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 17: R.J. Shelton #12 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown in front of Drue Tranquill #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 17: R.J. Shelton #12 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown in front of Drue Tranquill #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

This game is the first in which MSU will be an underdog, although not by much. The Irish have questions of their own entering the season after a 4-8 record last year that included losing at home to Michigan State 36-28. That also happened to be the last time the Spartans were considered a good football team on a national level.

Brian Kelly is still coaching Notre Dame, but he brought in a slew of new coordinators to change things up. The talent will be there per usual, but a new quarterback should damper expectations for this team. New quarterback Brandon Wimbush could be getting plenty of pressure by the time this game rolls around with Notre Dame’s first three games coming against solid defensive teams in Temple, Georgia and Boston College.

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Still, the Irish return four senior starters on the line and RB Josh Adams and WR Equanimeous St. Brown bring plenty of talent to the skill positions. Like previous matchups between these teams, this should be a close game throughout with both defenses getting tested. The Irish only return four starters on defense after struggling against any decent offense a year ago.

Going against a young secondary, this will be the game that Brian Lewerke is needed to pull out a win and he should do so in East Lansing. That said, LJ Scott, Gerald Holmes and Madre London will get the ball plenty in order to keep Notre Dame’s offense off the field. But to win the game, it’ll be on Lewerke.

Score Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Michigan State 34 (3-0)

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