Michigan State football vs. Illinois game predictions: Can Spartans' offense keep up?
Free Press sports writers give their predictions on Michigan State football's game against Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Illinois (3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network):
Carlos Monarrez
Not the best time for MSU to face a ranked opponent on the road after last week’s program-rocking debacle in Ann Arbor. Losing defensive star Jacoby Windmon to suspension is especially damaging to MSU’s slim chances of upsetting the No. 14 Illini. If the Spartans have any chance as two-touchdown underdogs, that chance will come in Payton Thorne’s arm against a stingy Illinois defense that has allowed more than 10 points only once during a six-game winning streak. The pick: Illinois 35, Michigan State 9.
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Rainer Sabin
Before this season, most would have forecasted a Spartans victory in this game. But then MSU began its sudden downturn and Illinois started its unexpected rise to the top of the Big Ten West standings. Factor in the eight player suspensions from the tunnel incident at Michigan, and the Spartans now don’t seem to have a prayer of winning in Champaign this weekend. The pick: Illinois 31, Michigan State 10.
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Jeff Seidel
After all the talk and focus on the tunnel and videotapes and suspensions, the Spartans will be thrilled to play a game again. But here’s the rub: the Spartans are not a good team and they will be (rightfully) missing suspended players. Meanwhile, Illinois is having a fantastic season. This is gonna get ugly fast. The pick: Illinois 34, Michigan State 14.
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Chris Solari
The Spartans’ defensive improvements the past two games disappear with the dropoff in talent because of the suspensions, and Chase Brown and Illinois grind the clock with long drives and patience. That forces MSU’s offense to try and force things when it does have the ball, exacerbating the ongoing issues and leading to a difficult afternoon, particularly if rain is a factor. The pick: Illinois 28, Michigan State 7.
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Shawn Windsor
The Spartans are coming off their most tumultuous week under Mel Tucker and will be missing eight players due to suspensions. They’ll be competitive early before the Illini ground game wears them down, just as U-M did. The pick: Illinois 29, Michigan State 16.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football vs. Illinois game picks: Can MSU keep up?
