Rutgers vs Michigan State Prediction: Bowl Game or Bust for the Spartans

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 27, 2024 8:03 PM ET

Win and go to a bowl. That’s Michigan State’s deal.

It was supposed to be a rocky and inconsistent first season under Jonathan Smith as he rebuilds the program, but it’s been … weird.

The team was good enough to rock Iowa 32-20, but the run of six losses in seven games before having to fight too hard to get by Purdue.

However, those six losses? Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Indiana, and at Illinois were five of them. No shame there.

Rutgers is already bowl eligible, but now it needs to rise above the Big Ten pack and get a seventh win to get a decent game.

The offense has stepped it up over the second half of the season, but overall the team has to be ready for a desperate squad that needs this.

Rutgers vs Michigan State: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
How To Watch: FS1
Venue: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
Teams: Michigan State (5-6), Rutgers (6-5)
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Why Rutgers Will Win

The pressure is off.

Rutgers has the bowl game coming, and it can do what it does and play loose with all the stress on the other side. The formula for the Scarlet Knights will be simple. Run, pound away, and keep control of the game and the clock.

Michigan State is the worst in the Big Ten in third down stops, the team is 0-4 when allowing 133 rushing yards or more, and Rutgers should be tough enough up front to at least flirt with that.

Why Michigan State Will Win

Rutgers struggles to complete throws, and the Spartan defense has to be all over the midrange passing game.

The Scarlet Knights struggle when they don’t at least hit 60% of their throws. Michigan State has to be even better than that.

The Spartans are 4-0 when allowing teams to connect on fewer than 59%, 1-6 when teams connect on more. It’s been a struggle for MSU to get to the quarterback, but if it can hang around against the run and sell out just a bit …

Rutgers vs Michigan State: Who Will Win?

It’s going to be rough in East Lansing, and not necessarily on the field.

It’ll be around 25 degrees with snow and wind a problem. Both teams will grind, the passing games will struggle, and at home with everything on the line, Michigan State will hang on thanks to one of its stronger running days of the season.