Michigan State football: Final score predictions vs. Minnesota in Week 4

Saturday is a big day for Michigan State football. It’s a chance for Mel Tucker and Co. to prove that the Week 3 loss to Washington was a fluke. Undefeated Minnesota is coming to town.

Although the Gophers are unranked, they’re technically favorites in this matchup and Michigan State will have to be the dogs for the second straight game. A home dog? That seems like a perfect opportunity to prove some people wrong.

It’s not going to be easy to take the Gophers down as they have one of the best rushing attacks in the nation and a really solid defense, but they’re not exactly battle-tested.

Who wins this Big Ten opener for both teams?

Our staff predicts the Minnesota vs. Michigan State football matchup

Connor Muldowney: This is a tough one to judge but I’m going to give Mel Tucker the benefit of the doubt and say that what we saw against Washington is not indicative of what to expect moving forward. The Spartans were bad last week but they don’t often lose two straight under Tucker — unless you’re counting the 2020 debacle when no team looked good. Michigan State is going to bounce back here with a statement win over the Gophers and prove to be the more talented team.

Prediction: Minnesota 20, Michigan State 24

Emmett Matasovsky: With Mel Tucker promising personnel changes upcoming, the Spartan secondary should improve a bit this week. Additionally, the Golden Gophers do not have the throwing and receiving threats that the Huskies had. This will be better than the Washington game, but I am not ready to commit to a Spartan victory.

Mohammed Ibrahim is arguably the best running back in the country. Ibrahim will get his rushing yards and likely a few touchdowns to go with them. The Spartans head into the game just outside the top 25 in rushing yards per game but have yet to be tested. Akron was atrocious, and Western’s rush offense was not much better besides two bad defensive lapses. Washington did not have to run much until they tried to run out the clock. Minnesota will utilize Ibrahim but is likely to have 17th-year senior Tanner Morgan heavily involved in their game plan. Chris Autman-Bell is out for the season, hampering the Golden Gophers, but I am not sold on the MSU secondary.

Minnesota has impressive defensive statistics. However, they have played an FCS opponent, New Mexico State, and the worst Power Five program, Colorado. They will be tested by the Spartans. That said, against the Huskies, the Spartans could not run the ball to save their life. I think this game comes down to Thorne’s arm again. If Jayden Reed is back and fully healthy, I can see the Spartans squeaking out a win. With Reed likely limited, I think the Spartans lose by three.

I’d love to be wrong and hear all about it on Sunday.

Prediction: Minnesota 31, Michigan State 28

Conner Linsner: After a tough loss to Washington last week, the Spartans will need to look to get back on track. The Spartans actually match up pretty well with Minnesota. Minnesota is going to hand the ball off and won’t be able to throw the rock like Michael Penix last weekend. Tanner Morgan is a solid quarterback but he isn’t a guy that will make crazy throws, or fit balls into very tight windows. I see this game being very close and down to the fourth quarter with a Spartan secondary giving up a late touchdown pass that gives P.J. Fleck the win.

Prediction: Minnesota 31, Michigan State 28