No. 12 Houston | No. 14 Washington | Top 25
No. 13: Michigan State
Last Season: 12-2 (7-1 Big Ten East)
The Spartans are back to where they do their best work: disrespected and outside of the top 10, with a chip on their shoulder. Last year they entered as the AP's fifth-ranked team and rose to as high as No. 2, but they were mostly unimpressive, playing best when facing a lower-ranked team or an underdog, and then got shellacked by Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. Sparty has just 10 returning starters, but Mark Dantonio has suggested that the defense could be his best yet. Running back LJ Scott could lead the Big Ten in rushing (699 yards last year as a true freshman). New QB Tyler O'Connor could put up similar numbers to Connor Cook's 2015 season (3,131 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs), especially if true freshman receiver Donnie Corley makes an impact. I have Michigan State as a 6-point underdog to Notre Dame and a toss-up vs. Michigan and Ohio State. Those two big home games against Michigan and OSU could make the Spartans the surprise team of the Big Ten.
Michigan State's chances to win each game
09.02 vs. Furman: 99.0%
09.17 @ Notre Dame: 33.0%
09.24 vs. Wisconsin: 57.4%
10.01 @ Indiana: 66.5%
10.08 vs. BYU: 71.7%
10.15 vs. Northwestern: 69.5%
10.22 @ Maryland: 71.0%
10.29 vs. Michigan: 33.4%
11.05 @ Indiana: 73.7%
11.12 vs. Rutgers: 81.5%
11.19 vs. Ohio State: 39.8%
11.26 @ Penn State: 42.1%
Somehow underrated yet again, Mark Dantonio's team has question marks on offense but enough defensive force to go 9-3 and push for another double-digit season in a big bowl game. -- Brian Bennett
Dantonio has made a habit of exceeding preseason expectations, but it won't be easy this year with QB Connor Cook now in the NFL. A 9-3 finish in the regular season seems about right for this squad. -- Josh Moyer
Dantonio's program isn't going anywhere. The Spartans will remain a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, but playing 11 straight weeks after an early September bye is a grind for any team. Expect a 9-3 year for the green and white. -- Dan Murphy
The Spartans have to replace key pieces at quarterback, offensive line and defensive line, and they may fall back to the pack in the rugged Big Ten East. Dantonio has won double-digit games in five of the last six seasons. To get there, Michigan State will have to win its bowl game after finishing the regular season 9-3. -- Jesse Temple
The stability of Dantonio's program simply shouldn't be questioned anymore, so even with so many key starters to replace, the Spartans are more than capable of cranking out another 10-2 season and contending in the brutal Big Ten East Division. -- Austin Ward
No. 12 Houston | No. 14 Washington | Top 25
