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The 2018 season finally gets started Friday when the Michigan State Spartans host the Utah State Aggies. There are high hopes for this year’s MSU team and a loss in Week 1 would be about as disastrous as it gets.
The writers here at The Only Colors have already made our picks for how we think the full season will work out, now it’s time to pick individual winners. In addition to picking the MSU score, the staff also makes their picks for the rest of the Big Ten schedule.
Matt Hoeppner
Michigan State 42 - Utah State 13
The Spartans will be able to get the ground game going against a team that was one of the worst rush defenses a year ago and that will allow the rest of the offense to open things up. MSU will get up quickly and stay out ahead of the Aggies, who will manage some offense, but not nearly enough to keep pace with Michigan State. Spartans win easily as LJ Scott goes well over 100 yards and finds the end zone multiple times.
Minnesota over New Mexico State
Northwestern over Purdue
Wisconsin over WKU
Texas over Maryland
Rutgers over Texas State
Illinois over Kent State
Ohio State over Oregon State
Iowa over NIU
Penn State over App State
Indiana over FIU
Notre Dame over Michigan
Nebraska over Akron
Matt Sheehan
Michigan State 31 - Utah State 17
MSU will play its usual vanilla opener with nothing too special to be seen. I think this game will be pretty close at halftime as MSU’s defense takes a hot second to adjust to Utah State’s uptempo offense, but take enough control of the game in the second half to make it seem like a comfortable win. I mean, let’s be honest -- MSU’s offense is too talented to not put up enough points to win this one.
New Mexico State vs. Minnesota
Northwestern vs. Purdue
Western Kentucky vs. Wisconsin
Texas vs. Maryland
Texas State vs. Rutgers
Kent State vs. Illinois
Oregon State vs. Ohio State
Northern Illinois vs. Iowa
Appalachian State vs. Penn State
Indiana vs. Florida International
Michigan vs. Notre Dame
Akron vs. Nebraska
Ryan O’Bleness
Michigan State 34 - Utah State 10
I think Utah State might hold its own early on while Brian Lewerke and the Michigan State offense try to get the feel for the offense (don’t panic, y’all). The MSU defense won’t allow much, so I expect a somewhat low-scoring game at the half -- maybe something like 14-3. The Spartans figure it out in the second half and begin to score at will. We then see some of the reserves get some playing time in the fourth quarter.
New Mexico State vs. Minnesota
Northwestern vs. Purdue
Western Kentucky vs. Wisconsin
Texas vs. Maryland
Texas State vs. Rutgers
Kent State vs. Illinois
Oregon State vs. Ohio State
Northern Illinois vs. Iowa
Appalachian State vs. Penn State
Indiana vs. Florida International
Michigan vs. Notre Dame
Akron vs. Nebraska
David Harns
Michigan State 41 - Utah State 10
Michigan State puts this one away early to the delight of a well-striped stadium. The backups get time and the backup’s backups get time as well. A late Aggie touchdown is unfortunate but the Spartans head to the desert injury-free.
Minnesota vs. New Mexico State
Northwestern vs. Purdue
Wisconsin vs. Western Kentucky
Texas vs. Maryland
Rutgers vs. Texas State
Illinois vs. Kent State
Ohio State vs. Oregon State
Iowa vs. Northern Illinois
Penn State vs. Appalachian State
Indiana vs. Florida International
Michigan vs. Notre Dame
Nebraska vs. Akron
Zachary Manning
Michigan State 38 - Utah State 13
New Mexico State vs. Minnesota:
Northwestern vs. Purdue
Western Kentucky vs. Wisconsin
Texas vs. Maryland
Texas State vs. Rutgers
Kent State vs. Illinois
Oregon State vs. Ohio State
Northern Illinois vs. Iowa
Appalachian State vs. Penn State
Indiana vs. Florida International
Michigan vs. Notre Dame
Akron vs. Nebraska
Kyle Thele
Michigan State 45 - Utah State 17
This one is pretty much going to stay right on script for a Michigan State opener. The Spartans are undoubtedly the better team, but there are always some kinks to work out in the season opener, and with a team this young, mistakes will be made. But even with all of that, the Spartans should race out to an early lead, something like 31-3. Then Utah State will take advantage of some mistakes and it will feel a lot closer than it actually is. Fortunately, the Spartans will finish strong. This is going to be a great exhibition er... opening game.
New Mexico State at Minnesota
Northwestern at Purdue
Western Kentucky at Wisconsin
Texas at Maryland
Texas State at Rutgers
Kent State at Illinois
Oregon State at Ohio State
Northern Illinois at Iowa
Appalachian State at Penn State
Indiana at Florida International
Michigan at Notre Dame
Akron at Nebraska