Michigan State football: Game-by-game predictions for 2023 season

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Dillon Tatum #21 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after a play against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 26, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 29: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball away from a tackle by Angelo Grose #15 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of a college football game at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

Sitting just one win away from bowl eligibility on Oct. 21, the atmosphere is going to be electric in East Lansing when Michigan comes to town (that sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?).

The Wolverines may very well be the No. 1 team in the nation at this point and that would be the perfect motivation for these overlooked Spartans to rise up and catch an upset win.

However, I think Michigan will just be too much and Jim Harbaugh escapes East Lansing with a tight win, tying the head-to-head record with Mel Tucker at 2-2.

Prediction: Loss (5-2, 2-2)

Things don’t get much easier for Michigan State the following week as it takes a trip up to Minneapolis to face the Golden Gophers who will be in the middle of a battle for the Big Ten West crown. Nightmares of last year’s game against Minnesota still dance in the Spartans’ heads.

Will that be enough motivation to pull off the road “upset”? It’ll help.

Unfortunately, Minnesota will pick up another win over Tucker and drop the Spartans to 5-3 with their second straight loss.

Prediction: Loss (5-3, 2-3)

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