It feels like forever since MSU has won a game, but Rutgers is up next. It’s a winnable game for the Spartans, but nothing is certain with this team. Can the Spartans pull out a win? See what our writers think.

Ryan O’Bleness (52-23)

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 13

Michigan State is a bad football team, but the Spartans are not losing to Rutgers. Stop. It.

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

Matt Hoeppner (55-12)

Michigan State 28, Rutgers 13

Alright, I refuse to believe things have gone so bad that I cannot pick Michigan State to beat Rutgers. The Spartans will come out like they did against Illinois, but this time they will finish the job. They have to, or else I don’t really know what will happen. Spartans win to set up a must win senior day against Maryland to get bowl eligible and send us all partying in Detroit for the Quick Lane Bowl.

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

David Harns (56-19)

MSU 33, Rutgers 11

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

Zach Manning (62-13)

MSU 24, Rutgers 21

Part of me wants to believe MSU could win in blowout fashion, but I just don’t see it happening. I think MSU gets up early and sits on the lead but holds off a late Rutgers rally.

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

Paul Fanson (63-12)

MSU 38, Rutgers 13

If nothing else, this week’s game is a barometer for the mental state of MSU’s team right now. All things being equal, MSU should win by a score of about 38-13 and cover, which is what my math says. But, football is ultimately a game played by 18-22 year old kids, and not by computer-generated avatars. This group has been through a lot in the last 7 weeks, no matter what the root cause. Oddly, I think it might be good that this is a road game. The comparison of theory / prediction to reality will be interesting this week.

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

I have Maryland in a mild upset (as does the FPI) and watch out Wolverines... it’s a trap! (game). Finally, it is crazy that the OSU-PSU line (-18) is very close to the MSU-Rutgers line (-20).

Matt Sheehan (54-11)

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 24

I just patently refuse to believe this team -- even this team -- could lose to Rutgers. I also refuse to believe this team can be on the right side of a blowout, so here I am predicting another close win against Rutgers. Excuse me while I go put some beer in the fridge for this one.

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin

Kyle Thele (44-14)

MSU 34, Rutgers 17

Sure, someone is going to win this game, but it’s not going to be the fans of either team. This is going to be something everyone just wants to forget regardless of the outcome. With that being said, MSU can’t possibly lose to this bad high school team, right?

Michigan vs. Indiana

Penn State vs. Ohio State

Minnesota vs. Northwestern

Illinois vs. Iowa

Nebraska vs. Maryland

Purdue vs. Wisconsin