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

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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 6: Running back Weston Bridges #27 of the Michigan State Spartans is tackled by linebacker Paddy Fisher #42 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 6, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

For some reason or another, Northwestern has had Michigan State’s number over the past few years. Michigan State does lead the all-time series 37-20, but it’s been made much closer over the past five meetings with the Wildcats taking four of them.

In fact, the last three seasons have seen Northwestern wins and Michigan State just couldn’t seem to slow down the aerial attack of Clayton Thorson — he was a Spartan killer.

Thorson is off to the NFL but Hunter Johnson, a former blue-chip recruit who transferred in from Clemson, should be every bit as good, if not better, than his predecessor.

You might think playing in Evanston gives the Wildcats a major advantage, but the crowd is usually 50-50 when Michigan State comes to town because of all the alums in Chicago, so home-field won’t be a factor here. The Spartans will come out swinging and this will be a big win as the Wildcats will be ranked in the Top 25.

Brian Lewerke went off the last time he traveled to Evanston but he didn’t come away with the win. That will change this time around as he’ll go off for 350 yards and three touchdowns, two of which will go to Cody White who has a monster day with 150 yards of his own.

This will be an all-around good game for the green and white, ending the three-game skid against Northwestern.

Final Score: Michigan State 34, Northwestern 21 (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)

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