Michigan State Football: Post-spring 2019 game-by-game predictions

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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks for a open receiver while being chased by Mike Panasiuk #72 of the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

This is the game circled on every Michigan State fan’s calendar. Michigan and Michigan State have one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college football and this season will be no different, especially after the embarrassment the Spartans suffered last year with just 94 total yards of offense against the Wolverines — it’s been a popular area of trash talk, for good reason.

If the offense continues to improve throughout the year, like I believe it will, that will be a distant memory on Nov. 16 and Brian Lewerke can move past it and try to win his second game against the Wolverines in his three-year career as a starter.

Lewerke will need to play a nearly flawless game against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor and he’ll nearly pull it off. He’ll finish with 200 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-29 passing with an interception that will seal it for the Wolverines.

The run game will struggle, though, which is why the Spartans won’t be able to pull off the victory in Ann Arbor, giving Michigan its second straight win in the rivalry. Connor Heyward, La’Darius Jefferson and Elijah Collins will all struggle, giving the Wolverines the task of focusing solely on the pass game.

Don’t get me wrong, this one will be close, per usual, but the Spartans will feel devastated for letting a winnable game slip through their grasp.

Final Score: Michigan State 17, Michigan 21 (7-3, 4-3)

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