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TOC Staff Picks: Wisconsin

Will the Spartans bounce back against the Badgers? See what our writers think

NCAA Football: Michigan State at Ohio State Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

After a loss to Ohio State, Michigan State will be looking to get back on track against Wisconsin. Can the Spartans pull it off in Madison? See what our writers think.

Matt Sheehan (33-7)

Michigan State 20, Wisconsin 19

AWWWWWWWW YEAH BABY WE’RE DOING IT. WE ARE MARCHING STRAIGHT INTO MADISON AND ARE GOING TO SLOP OUR WAY TO SOME SILLINESS. MSU’s run defense does enough to keep Jonathan Taylor at bay. MSU’s offense is serviceable, which is all we need them to be. I’m pounding the Kool-Aid hard and the flavor is I’ve Got A Hunch Berry. Spartans by one.

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

David Harns (41-9)

MSU 22, Wisconsin 16

Five field goals and one touchdown from the offense. Coghlin is back in a big way and the Spartans upset the Badgers. But not without drama. A goal line stand in the final minute clinches the win.

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Kyle Thele (29-9)

Wisconsin 28, Michigan State 17

The Badgers aren’t going to explode against the MSU defense the way Ohio State did, but that won’t change the result much. Being left on the field too long and the constant bludgeoning of the Wisconsin rushing attack will finally take hold and Wisconsin will win in a game that feels more secure than the 11-point difference. Granted, we are due a good offensive performance if the good-bad splits remain a weekly tradeoff. But Wisconsin is the best defense the Spartans have seen and things won’t end well.

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Matt Hoeppner (40-10)

Wisconsin 20, Michigan State 10

At first I was thinking I might pick MSU to pull the upset in this one, and I still believe they are capable of doing so, but after looking at the numbers for Wisconsin, I just can’t pull the trigger on it. The Badgers defense has been stout all season, and they are just as tough to pass against as to run against. The Spartan offense has shown much more life this year than they did most of last season, but the even then the results haven’t translated to enough points in the two losses.

I expect Michigan State to do a pretty good job against Jonathan Taylor, but ultimately wear down from being on the field so much. I think the Badgers hit a couple big passes against a defense focused on stopping the run that make the difference. In the end I just think the Badgers are in a better place overall as a team and playing in Madison is never an easy task.

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Zach Manning (42-8)

Wisconsin 20, MSU 17

I do think the Spartans keep it close, but playing in Madison is tough for anyone. MSU will keep Taylor in check, but he breaks a long one that turns out to be the winning touchdown.

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Ryan O’Bleness (36-14)

Michigan State 17, Wisconsin 16

I just have a feeling MSU steals one in Madison. It’s going to be tough. I predict an old-school Big Ten battle with a lot of defense and a lot of ground and pound on offense. Go Green!

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

Paul Fanson (43-7)

Wisconsin 30, MSU 17

My heart honestly really likes MSU this week. I think we match up well and if we can get the lead early, apply some game pressure, and force them to pass, my gut tells me that MSU can break them. But, I decided that I would let my computer pick for this exercise, and it says Wisconsin 30, MSU 17. Stupid, unemotional computer...

Michigan vs. Illinois

Rutgers vs. Indiana

Maryland vs. Purdue

Penn State vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Minnesota

My gut (but not my computer) likes Purdue to win just because of the super-dope astronaut uniforms, while the machine does suggest the Nebraska-Minnesota game may be closer than the spread suggests.