No. 7 USC | No. 9 Florida State | Top 25
No. 8: Michigan State
Last Season: 11-2 (7-1 Big Ten East)
Remember the Spartans?
What's a program gotta do to get a little more love around here? Mark Dantonio is beginning to ponder that question aloud, as are the people in and around his program, which has won 11 or more games four of the past five seasons and won four straight bowl games against some brand-name opponents. Case in point: Instead of spending his winter answering questions about the Spartans' mind-bending 21-point fourth quarter comeback victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl, the ninth year MSU coach found himself fielding queries about the new kid down the road in Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh. And yes, all of that has made its way onto the bulletin boards in East Lansing. "Since I've been here, people have always talked about Michigan and about Ohio State and left us in the dust," explains senior quarterback Connor Cook, who threw 24 TDs in 2014 vs. 8 INTs. "It's nothing new for me. And we'll get to play them both again." -- Ryan McGee
Michigan State lost two games last season, and both of those teams-Oregon and Ohio State-went on to play in the national title game. This season? The Spartans figure to be even better. They're the Big Ten's most experienced squad (14 returning starters), and I rank their O- and D-lines No. 1 and No. 2 in the country, respectively. And it never hurts to have an NFL QB prospect like Connor Cook (8.8 ypa, No. 9 in the FBS) leading my No. 2 offense in the conference. I have Michigan State as an underdog in just one contest this year (at Ohio State, +7), but beware, Buckeyes: The visitor has won four in a row in this series.
IN IF...
Downfield weapons step up for Cook. The pocket passer could be one of the nation's best (24 TDs, 8 INTs last season), but he's only as dangerous as his receivers. The Spartans' two best 2014 deep threats are gone, and the team's most veteran target, senior Aaron Burbridge, is coming off a spring foot injury. But if someone emerges, MSU can run the table.
OUT IF...
MSU falls to Ohio State. A victory over Oregon? Very impressive. Wins over Michigan and Nebraska? Not too shabby. But unless the Spartans leave Columbus with a W, they'll be watching the playoff from home.
Michigan State's chances to win each game
09.04 @ Western Michigan: 81.8%
09.12 Oregon: 51.3%
09.19 Air Force: 96.8%
09.26 Central Michigan: 97.6%
10.03 Purdue: 92.1%
10.10 @ Rutgers: 87.2%%
10.17 @ Michigan: 63.1%
10.24 Indiana: 93.1%
11.07 @ Nebraska: 68.8%
11.14 Maryland: 93.5%
11.21 @ Ohio State: 26.6%*
11.28 Penn State: 78.3%
*BROCK HUARD, ESPN analyst: OSU is bigger, faster and more experienced, so I give Sparty just a 1-in-10 shot to pull this off. Cook (81.2 QBR in '14, No. 7 in the FBS) will need to be elite.
SHARON KATZ, ESPN Stats & Info: Cook can't help MSU's defense (8.5 ypp allowed against OSU in '14). FPI projects trouble for the unit again this season.
The Spartans have all the ingredients of a playoff contender, including stout line play and a star senior quarterback. Alas, they're stuck in the same division as Ohio State and have to go to Columbus this year. That will be their only loss in an 11-1 season. -- Brian Bennett
Underestimate coach Mark Dantonio at your own risk. The Spartans keep finding a way to win and they should be just fine this season, finishing 10-2 with QB Connor Cook at the helm and plenty of talent inside the trenches. -- Josh Moyer
Michigan State returns a veteran offensive line and stars on both sides of the ball in Connor Cook and Shilique Calhoun. Games against Oregon and Ohio State give Mark Dantonio's team chances to prove itself, but winning both will be tough. -- Dan Murphy
This is not the MSU team that loses a home opener for the first time in 17 years. The Spartans have the better quarterback this year against Oregon and the horses to roll unbeaten through their Big Ten slate until November, when Ohio State awaits, and MSU finishes at 11-1. -- Mitch Sherman
With a veteran quarterback, an athletic defense and a program with plenty of momentum, Mark Dantonio has built a team ready to contend for a title. But there's one big hurdle in the way -- a road trip to Ohio State that could put them at 11-1 and keep them out of the College Football Playoff. -- Austin Ward
No. 7 USC | No. 9 Florida State | Top 25
