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Michigan State Football: An early preview of the first 3 games of 2023

By Scott Tolonen

EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 02: Michigan State Football Head Coach Mel Tucker greets quarterback Payton Thorne #10 on the sideline during the first half against Western Michigan University at Spartan Stadium on September 2, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - SEPTEMBER 02: Michigan State Football Head Coach Mel Tucker greets quarterback Payton Thorne #10 on the sideline during the first half against Western Michigan University at Spartan Stadium on September 2, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) /
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For me, the Michigan State football season starts the day after Spartan hoops loses its last game in heartbreaking fashion.

There are plenty of offseason storylines to create some of the hottest takes on the planet and the football fanatics eat it up like a Melting Moments ice cream sandwich. Transfers, incoming freshmen, spring ball, and AndyHCRMB YouTube videos are all part of the summer news feed to get that fix until September.

One thing I haven’t covered yet is a season preview, and even though we still have four months to sit and overthink every scenario that ranges from “Oh my god, we’re going 3-9 again” to “This team can make the College Football Playoff if we just score more points than the other team every game,” here are my initial thoughts on the first three games of the season.

Doing all 12 at once is a little too much so let’s break it down into bite-size, easily digestible pieces.

Central Michigan (Sept. 2)

Predicted spread: MSU -17.5

While not a lot went right for either of these teams last season, a 0-0 record lets the teams and fans alike dream of success.

For Michigan State, it’s a dream of winning the Big Ten title again, beating rivals and being the top dog in the state of Michigan. For Central Michigan, it’s winning the MAC and being the top dog in the Group of Five Michigan schools. It all starts Sept. 2.

Michigan State will look to show that last year, not 2021, was the anomaly and that the program is headed in the right direction. The more we hear about last year’s off-field distractions (building construction, injuries, etc.) the more it makes sense that the team just didn’t seem to click except for a few games. The Spartans will come into the season learning from this adversity and live up the standard that Mark Dantonio had set in his 13 years as head coach.

Central Michigan may have goals that aren’t as lofty, but it doesn’t mean they’ll roll over for the Spartans. The Chippewas have knocked off the Spartans in Spartan Stadium before and belief carries a lot of weight when it comes to a football team. Like the Spartans, The Chips had a lackluster year, failing to make a bowl game and losing to their archrival Western Michigan. Mediocre play by the quarterbacks in addition to the injury to 2021 star running back Lew Nichols III resulted in a middle of the MAC 24.8 points per game.

With Nichols III declaring for the NFL draft, CMU will be looking for someone to step up to be the leader and star of this offense. For Michigan State, they will look to get back to the Spartan identity of running the ball and tough defense and have the experience and talent to get back.

Prediction: Michigan State 34, Central Michigan 13

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