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Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Northwestern in Week 9

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 15: Runningback LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans is upended by cornerback Montre Hartage #24 of the Northwestern Wildcats as safety Godwin Igwebuike #16 of the Northwestern Wildcats enters the play during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 54-40. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 15: Runningback LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans is upended by cornerback Montre Hartage #24 of the Northwestern Wildcats as safety Godwin Igwebuike #16 of the Northwestern Wildcats enters the play during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 15, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. Northwestern defeated Michigan State 54-40. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Do you believe in these five bold predictions for Michigan State football’s Week 9 matchup against Northwestern in Evanston?

Trips to Evanston are always taken with a grain of salt. While Michigan State fans usually travel well to the Chicago area, the Spartans are usually met with Pat Fitzgerald’s hungry Wildcats in a tough road battle. Northwestern always seems to give Mark Dantonio and the Spartans their all and Saturday will be no different.

Michigan State comes in 6-1 and 4-0 in the Big Ten, ranked No. 16 in the country. Virtually no one saw this hot start to the season coming after last year’s 3-9 debacle, but the turnaround has come faster than anticipated.

The Spartans are looking to improve to 5-0 with a chance to either surpass Penn State in the standings next Saturday or completely knock the Nittany Lions out with a second straight loss if they fall to Ohio State in Week 9.

Here are five bold predictions for Michigan State’s battle with the Wildcats Saturday.

5. LJ Scott out-duels Justin Jackson

Last year when these two teams met, LJ Scott had one of the most forgettable performances of his career. No, he didn’t fumble the ball away nor did he rush for a measly yards per carry average, but he didn’t do much of anything. In fact, he was granted just three carries by the staff, taking that for 25 yards.

It was his second straight three-carry performance and it was evident he was in the dog house following a costly fumble against Wisconsin a few games earlier. Scott hasn’t forgotten about that nor has he put the rough start to the 2017 season out of his mind. He’s hungry.

Saturday will be an opportunity for him to build on his last two games and put up over 100 yards for the second time this season. He’s going to do just that despite the Wildcats ranking 25th in the nation in terms of yards per game allowed on the ground. He will put up about 125 yards and a score on 19 carries.

That will be good enough to out-duel the impressive running back for Northwestern, Justin Jackson. He rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns against the Spartans last season so you know the much-improved MSU defense wants another shot. He will be held under 100.

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