Michigan State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2018

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards past Manny Bowen #43 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 04: LJ Scott #3 of the Michigan State Spartans battles for yards past Manny Bowen #43 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 27-24. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 10: Quarterback Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils drops back to pass during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on Novemebr10, 2016 in against the Utah Utes Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 10: Quarterback Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils drops back to pass during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on Novemebr10, 2016 in against the Utah Utes Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Herm Edwards era has officially begun in Tempe, but there are plenty of skeptics surrounding the Arizona State program — and for good reason. Edwards hasn’t coached in years and his knowledge of the college game is not ideal — he’s more of an NFL guy.

Still, he accepted the Arizona State job and feels as if he’s the right choice to turn the Sun Devils around. 

Fortunately, he already has one thing going for him. He has a quarterback who has plenty of starting experience and who passed for 3,270 yards and 20 touchdowns a season ago. Oh yeah, and he’s the team’s lead returning rusher. Manny Wilkins could give the Spartans’ secondary a solid test.

Playing the Sun Devils on the road at night brings out a serious case of ‘#Pac12AfterDark”. Can the Spartans overcome the road atmosphere in a Pac-12 stadium versus an upset-minded team?

Brian Lewerke will have a field day against this defense, as will LJ Scott. The Sun Devils’ secondary ranked 121st in college football last season and the Spartans will torch them for 350 yards through the air and Scott will add another 100 on the ground.

This will be a nice confidence-boosting victory.

Final Score: Michigan State 41, Arizona State 21 (2-0)