Michigan State Football: 5 overreactions from shaky win over Utah State

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EAST LANSING, MI – AUGUST 31: Cody White #7 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his first half touchdown with LJ Scott #3 while playing the Utah State Aggies at Spartan Stadium on August 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Michigan State will be lucky to win nine games

“This team isn’t going to sniff the playoff.”

Must Read: MSU Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2018

“Big Ten title? Ha, this team will be lucky to finish in the top three of the East division.”

“We will be happy just making a bowl game.”

Those were three common overreactions from Friday night’s win over the Utah State Aggies and while I get people say these things in the heat of the moment, there was a dose of honesty behind the statements.

Fans were close to jumping off the bandwagon after the 38-31 win but that’s not how the long season works. Michigan State has played tight season openers for as long as Mark Dantonio has been in charge. If you’re basing this team’s expectations off one game, you’ll look silly in the end.

In fact, let’s flash it back to previous openers.

2011 — Won 28-6 vs. Jacksonville State in underwhelming performance. Season outcome: Legends Division champs, finished 11-3 with Outback Bowl win vs. Georgia
2013 — Won 26-13 vs. Western Michigan in ugly offensive showing. Season outcome: Rose Bowl win, Big Ten title
2015 — Won 37-24 at Western Michigan in back-and-forth game. Season outcome: College Football Playoff

Don’t throw all your previous expectations out the window over one shaky performance against a team that was upset hungry.

Next. Top 25 MSU football players of Mark Dantonio era. dark

Maybe Utah State isn’t as bad as everyone expected them to be.

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