247Sports predicts Michigan State Football's record for 2023 season
It's only late April, but that hasn't stopped college football fans and publications from looking ahead at the 2023 season.
In fact, here at Spartan Nation we put out a game-by-game prediction of Michigan State's 2023 season way back in January. Recently, 247Sports' Brad Crawford did the same thing for each Big Ten program.
Crawford predicts the Spartans to go 6-6 overall, and 4-5 against Big Ten competition this fall. Here's what he had to say about Michigan State:
2023 schedule predictions (6-6, 4-5): Central Michigan (Win), Richmond (Win), Washington (Loss), Maryland (Win), at Iowa (Loss), at Rutgers (Win), Michigan (Loss), at Minnesota (Loss), Nebraska (Win), at Ohio State (Loss), at Indiana (Win), Penn State (Loss)
The skinny: Mel Tucker's team will get to bowl eligibility, but that's about it for the Spartans in terms of success this fall against one of the nation's most brutal slates. We're going to call the three biggest games of the year in getting over this win total Washington, Minnesota and Iowa. Michigan State's not as talented as the Big Three (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State) and that aforementioned trio is going to be a doozy.
While I mostly agree with Crawford's predictions, I've got the Spartans beating Minnesota on the road in Minneapolis and reaching seven wins. If you set MSU's win total at 6.5 games, I'm taking the over.
The 2023 season could be the defining year for head coach Mel Tucker, who still needs to prove he can win in East Lansing without Kenneth Walker III in his backfield. If Michigan State rebounds with a winning record in 2023, that would signify that the program is heading in the right direction. If the Spartans disappoint again, it will raise serious questions as to whether MSU has the right guy leading its football program.
247Sports' Predicted 2023 Big Ten Standings
East Division
1.) Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
2.) Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
3.) Penn State (11-1, 8-1)
4.) Michigan State (6-6, 4-5)
5.) Maryland (7-5, 4-5)
6.) Indiana (3-9, 1-8)
7.) Rutgers (4-8, 1-8)
West Division
1.) Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2)
2.) Iowa (9-3, 6-3)
3.) Minnesota (8-4, 6-3)
4.) Nebraska (7-5, 5-4)
5.) Illinois (5-7, 3-6)
6.) Purdue (4-8, 2-7)
7.) Northwestern (2-10, 0-9)
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