Saturday could either be a really good day for Michigan State football fans, or a really bad one. It could mark the end of the Jonathan Smith era, or it could lead to another season under the struggling head coach.
Only one team stands in the way of an official decision from J Batt: Maryland.
Michigan State is 3-8 on the year and there’s a decent chance that the Spartans will fall to 3-9 after the Maryland game on Saturday night at Ford Field, and that would be the second time in the past decade that they finished with that unfortunate record. While 4-8 isn’t much better, it at least shows that the team didn’t just fold when things got tough.
Will Michigan State finally win a game for the first time since September? Let’s get bold.
1. We’ll see Aidan Chiles under center at some point
While I don’t think he’s going to start because Alessio Milivojevic has earned that right, Aidan Chiles will make an appearance under center at some point on Saturday, and I think he’ll even throw a touchdown pass for the Spartans in what could be his final game (don’t want to speculate about anyone’s future when Smith is still here).
Chiles has worked hard to be a captain, and I think Smith will show him some respect by putting him in the game and letting him get a drive or two to really prove himself again.
2. Offense finally scores 30
The last time Michigan State scored more than 20 points in a game was back in early October when the Spartans scored 27 in a tough loss to Nebraska. The last time Michigan State scored 30 was one game early against USC. I think that changes on Saturday night.
Maryland doesn’t exactly have the best defense, but that hasn’t mattered much for the Spartans as the offense has been slightly anemic since the first month of the season. I think we’ll see a much more motivated team come out of the tunnel at Ford Field, and the offense will respond by finally breaking the 30-point plateau. I think the Spartans finish with 34 points.
Finally, some exciting offensive play. Will it be enough, though?
3. Michigan State finally wins a game
It’s crazy to say this is a bold prediction against a 4-7 team, but Michigan State hasn’t won a game since mid-September and the Spartans are 0-8 in Big Ten play. Winning a game has felt impossible for months, especially after blowing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against Iowa and also a seven-point fourth-quarter lead against Minnesota.
The Spartans will be up heading into the fourth, and they won’t choke this time, holding on for a 34-24 win, covering the spread as well.
Fans will be slightly worried that this could mean one more season of Smith.