Michigan State Football: 3 reasons to feel optimistic ahead of Michigan game

For the first time since 2010, Michigan and Michigan State football both head into their yearly rivalry battle undefeated. The Spartans and Wolverines are both 7-0 and they’re each fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff as well as positioning in the Big Ten East standings.

Michigan State has the home-field advantage on Saturday, but the Spartans happen to be underdogs, according to Vegas, and it might have something to do with the fact that they haven’t beaten Michigan in East Lansing since 2014.

Will that change this year with one of the most electric atmospheres in the rivalry’s history?

Here’s why Michigan State fans should feel optimistic ahead of Saturday’s game.

3. Spartans had an extra week to prepare

Mel Tucker is currently undefeated (1-0) after a bye week at Michigan State.

And while that doesn’t seem all that impressive given the small sample size, it should ease the minds of Michigan State fans that his victory last year was over a top-10 Northwestern team last year. Tucker used a scheduled bye week to prepare for Northwestern and his Spartans came out and looked really good, pulling off the upset over the unbeaten Wildcats.

Teams coming off bye weeks aren’t always more prepared, but the Spartans looked good last year against Northwestern in a game no one gave them a chance to win and I have a feeling they’re focused and ready for Michigan.

Beating Michigan isn’t going to be easy, but the Spartans had two full weeks to prepare for this game and that’s an advantage Tucker has to feel fortunate to have been granted.

Michigan State should know Michigan like the back of its hand by the time these teams kick off.