Michigan State Football: Staff score predictions vs. Northwestern in Week 9
Improving to 5-0 in the Big Ten won’t be an easy task for Michigan State football, but Northwestern is beatable. Here are our staff predictions.
Two months ago, Michigan State fans would have been ecstatic with a 2-2 start to the Big Ten campaign after a horrid 2016 season. Surprise, the Spartans are 4-0 with a chance to improve to 5-0 and prove themselves worthy of a Big Ten title.
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Taking on Northwestern in Evanston Saturday afternoon, the Spartans are hoping for a big road win to supplant them at the top of the Big Ten East standings. A win would keep them level with either Penn State or Ohio State (depending on who wins Saturday in Columbus) with a matchup against the Nittany Lions looming.
Can Michigan State take care of business and continue to control their own Big Ten East destiny? It’s possible, but there needs to be more offense from this squad.
Our staff has weighed in on the outcome of Saturday’s contest.
Connor Muldowney: This one is going to be yet another instant classic in Evanston. We’ve had the ‘Mouse Trap’ game and the monster comeback thanks to Drew Stanton, but this will be just your normal down-to-the-wire affair. Michigan State will fall behind 14-0 early and pull within four by halftime. They will score first in the second half to take a lead, but Justin Jackson will break off a 30-yard run to put the Wildcats ahead 21-17 late in the third and they will add a field goal. Michigan State scores the last 10 points of the game, including an LJ Scott scamper for a score with under three minutes remaining.
Final Score: Michigan State 27, Northwestern 24
Stephen Robb: It’s a revenge game for the Spartans as they take on Northwestern. Last year’s 54-40 game was a sloppy effort from Sparty. This MSU team is already proving to be more resilient and competitive. Northwestern’s Justin Jackson presents a huge problem for the Spartan defense. If they can keep him in check then they will have a great chance to win. All the talk about the offense this week has me thinking that Mark Dantonio will get Brian Lewerke going early, similar to the Iowa game. I anticipate the Spartans being able to pull this one out.
Final Score: Michigan State 21, Northwestern 13
Michael Briggs: Michigan State will be leaving the state of Michigan for just the second time this season when it travels to Evanston, Ill. this weekend to take on Northwestern. Fortunately for the Spartans, MSU’s large group of Chicago-based alumni are expected to flock Ryan Field to root them on. This should help Michigan State in a crucial game to its 2017 season.
While the Spartans have exceeded expectations thus far, the Northwestern game could serve as a springboard for bigger things. It can also serve as a trap game with contests versus Penn State and Ohio State looming. While I expect the Spartans to avoid an upset, it will be interesting to see if they take the next step toward proving they are legitimate players in the East division and, subsequently, the Big Ten title race.
There’s little doubt in my mind that the MSU defense will play well — especially with the knowledge that Northwestern scored six offensive touchdowns against them last season — but will the offense show it has developed enough to compete with the Big Ten’s elite? While the Michigan State running game needs to show up in the box score, all eyes should be on QB Brian Lewerke. The redshirt sophomore has the talent to sling the ball all over the field, but we haven’t seen much of it yet. I’m predicting this will be the Arizona native’s breakout game. Here come the Spartans.
Final Score: Michigan State 38, Northwestern 6
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Adam Zdroik: If the offense continues to struggle, this result may not be a favorable result for the Spartans. Northwestern has an able quarterback in Clayton Thorson and one of the better backs in the conference in Justin Jackson. Can Brian Lewerke and LJ Scott outlast those guys that dropped 54 points in East Lansing a year ago? Maybe.
Final Score: Michigan State 21, Northwestern 20