Michigan State football: Previewing games 7-9 including a big rivalry win?

Michigan State football: Previewing games 7-9 including another big rivalry win?

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 30: AJ Arcuri #76 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates with the Paul Bunyan trophy with Sparty the Michigan State Spartans mascot after defeating Michigan Wolverines 37-33 at Spartan Stadium on October 30, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 26: Head Coach P. J. Fleck of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /

at Minnesota (Oct. 28)

Spartan fans will have flashbacks combining last year’s game against Minnesota and the 2021 game at Purdue. Spartans can’t muster up the energy after celebrating for six straight days following the victory over Michigan. College kids may be able to rebound from hangovers faster than the rest of us, but we’ll gladly exchange a win over Michigan for a loss in what I’m assuming will be a snowy loss in Minneapolis.

Minnesota is also projected to have one of the top defenses in the Big Ten, after only giving up 13.3 points per game last season and barely missing out on the Big Ten Championship Game.

Yes, losing the Big Ten’s leading rusher and a guy who rarely got tackled for a loss is a tough one for the Gophers, but head coach P.J. Fleck has led his team to nine or more wins in three of the last four seasons, the lone exception being the COVID-19 year.

While double digit wins might be a stretch, this team can still win eight or nine games which should be put them squarely in the conversation as Big Ten West champs.

Prediction: Minnesota 33, Michigan State 24

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