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The Only Predictions: We guess MSU’s record, MVPs, B1G winner and more

8 predictions before Friday’s opener is what you didn’t know you needed this Monday

Michigan State v Michigan Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

It’s the last call for preseason predictions this week.

Lucky for you, you’ve got eight more predictions on MSU’s season right here. Because we care about you. We really do.

Don’t agree with what we have to say? Folks, that’s why the comment section was invented.

Ryan O’Bleness

Record: 10-2. The game at Penn State, one week before Michigan, is troublesome. Ohio State and Michigan at home are also going to be tough games. The game at Arizona State could be tricky out West and due to the Josiah Scott injury, but the Spartans are a much more talented team overall. I see no reason why this team won’t have another double-digit win season and play in a New Year’s Six Bowl.

Record vs. UM, OSU, Penn State: 1-2. As I stated above, going to Happy Valley to play a very talented Penn State team is no easy feat. The Spartans get the benefit of playing Ohio State and Michigan at home. I expect to beat Michigan because that is what the Spartans do in the Mark Dantonio era. I also expect MSU to actually show up against Ohio State, but I am predicting a heart-breaking loss.

Offensive MVP: Brian Lewerke

Defensive MVP: Joe Bachie

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Hottest take you have about MSU: The Spartans are going to finish the season as a top-five defensive unit in the country. Last year, the team came mighty close to that, finishing seventh. With nine starters returning, and talented players taking over those open spots (likely Tryiq Thompson at SAM and Jacub Panasiuk at defensive end), there should be a lot of optimism. How the Josiah Scott injury affects the defense remains to be seen, but Josh Butler and Kalon Gervin are solid backup options.

Michigan State v Northwestern Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Asa Hans

Record: 10-2

Record vs. UM, OSU, Penn State: 1-2 (losses to psu and osu)

Offensive MVP: Brian Lewerke

Defensive MVP: Joe Bachie

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: OSU vs. Wisconsin

Hottest take you have about MSU: Brian Lewerke dark-horses his way to New York for the Heisman presentation.

Matt Hoeppner

Record: 10-2

Record vs UM, OSU, Penn State: 2-1

Offensive MVP: Brian Lewerke

Defensive MVP: Joe Bachie

Big Ten Championship: Wisconsin vs. OSU

Hottest take you have about MSU: This will statistically be one of the best teams of the Dantonio era on both sides of the ball but they will lose at Nebraska the week after beating Ohio State and it will cost them a trip to Indy.

Penn State v Michigan State Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

David Harns

Record: 10-2

Record vs. UM, OSU, Penn State: 2-1

Offensive MVP: LJ Scott

Defensive MVP: David Dowell

Big Ten Championship Game matchup and winner: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State

Hottest take you have about MSU: LJ Scott makes the nation take notice early, with zero lost fumbles, 10 touchdowns, and 1,000 total yards going into the Michigan game. The result of that Top 10 matchup in East Lansing will either launch Scott into Heisman discussions or bring him back down to earth.

McLain Moberg

Record: 10-2

Record vs. UM, OSU, Penn State: 1-2, I have the Spartans beating Michigan and losing to OSU and Penn State.

Offensive MVP: Felton Davis III

Defensive MVP: Joe Bachie

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: OSU vs. Wisconsin

Hottest take you have about MSU: It’s not the hottest take in the world but I have Mark Dantonio winning Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time. His last one came back in 2015 when Michigan State finished the season 12-2 (7-1 B1G) and lost to Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

Penn State v Michigan State Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Zachary Manning

Record: 10-2

Record vs. UM, OSU, Penn State: 2-1

Offensive MVP: LJ Scott

Defensive MVP: Khari Willis

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: OSU vs. Wisconsin

Hottest take you have about MSU: LJ Scott leads the Big Ten in rushing and is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.

Kyle Thele

Record: 9-3

Record vs UM, OSU, Penn State: 2-2, just beating Michigan, but beating them so badly it counts as two wins.

Offensive MVP: LJ Scott, with the NFL on the line he lives up to that potential. Becomes the workhorse back that allows Lewerke and the passing game room to throw.

Defensive MVP: Justin Layne, return of the No Fly Zone. He wins narrowly over Josiah Scott, just because of Scott’s injury.

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: Penn State vs Wisconsin

Hottest take you have about MSU: This MSU team has as many if not more NFL players on it than any in Dantonio’s tenure, but is still too young to be a truly elite team.

NCAA Football: Western Michigan at Michigan State Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Sheehan

Record: 9-3

Record vs UM, OSU, Penn State:: 1-2

Offensive MVP: Brian Lewerke

Defensive MVP: Justin Layne, his impact in Josiah Scott’s absence will give him a nice head start in the race too.

Big Ten Championship Game matchup: Wisconsin vs. OSU

Hottest take you have about MSU: I have two. 1) This will be Brian Lewerke’s last year at MSU as he plays himself into the NFL Draft. 2) This team will lose a game they absolutely shouldn’t, like against Purdue, Northwestern or someone really upsetting like that. And I will totally be rational about it on Twitter after the game.

Your Turn To Vote

Poll

MSU’s regular season record

This poll is closed

  • 8%
    12-0
    (48 votes)
  • 35%
    11-1
    (197 votes)
  • 31%
    10-2
    (176 votes)
  • 18%
    9-3
    (105 votes)
  • 3%
    8-4
    (21 votes)
  • 0%
    7-5
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    6-6 or lower
    (4 votes)
553 votes total Vote Now

Poll

MSU’s record vs. Penn State, UM and OSU?

This poll is closed

  • 12%
    3-0
    (59 votes)
  • 60%
    2-1
    (284 votes)
  • 23%
    1-2
    (108 votes)
  • 3%
    0-3
    (17 votes)
468 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who is MSU’s offensive MVP?

This poll is closed

  • 77%
    Brian Lewerke
    (342 votes)
  • 18%
    LJ Scott
    (81 votes)
  • 2%
    Felton Davis
    (13 votes)
  • 1%
    Other
    (7 votes)
443 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who is MSU’s defensive MVP?

This poll is closed

  • 69%
    Joe Bachie
    (308 votes)
  • 6%
    Justin Layne
    (27 votes)
  • 6%
    Khari Willis
    (30 votes)
  • 6%
    David Dowell
    (31 votes)
  • 7%
    Kenny Willekes
    (33 votes)
  • 3%
    Other
    (14 votes)
443 votes total Vote Now