Why it’s OK to be optimistic about Michigan State football in 2020

There are plenty of winnable games on the schedule

No one really knows how good any team in the Big Ten is this year, other than Ohio State, who will obviously be very good, as the Buckeyes usually are.

Michigan State opens the season against Rutgers, a team the Spartans haven’t lost to since they joined the Big Ten. This makes for a winnable game, and although it is Rutgers, it could lead to some momentum going into the Michigan game.

Speaking of that game, catching Michigan as early in the season as possible is the best-case scenario for the Spartans. The Wolverines will replace four offensive line starters as well as trot out first-year starter Joe Milton at quarterback.

Michigan usually struggles early in the season, and being a rivalry game, it will give Mel Tucker and his team the motivation to knock off the Wolverines and regain Paul Bunyan.

The rest of the season, outside of Ohio State and possibly Penn State, is filled with games the Spartans should, at the very least, keep close.

Going to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes won’t be the same trap game it usually is without the raucous fans. Indiana doesn’t match up well with MSU. Maryland and Northwestern are not good teams. MSU will close out the season with Ohio State at home and Penn State on the road, both of those games they’ll hope to keep close.

It’s very possible this team could win five or six games.