Michigan St Spartans 2023 College Football Preview
July 25, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 5-7
ATS – 5-6-1
The Spartans followed up their wonderful 2021 campaign in which they won 11 (!) games and put in a STINKER. They opened up the season in fine form by crushing a pair of MAC SEWER DWELLERS (Broncos, Zips) but then proceeded to lose four games in a row. SPARTY had a couple of quality wins (Wisconsin, at Illinois) but they failed to get that elusive sixth victory to send them to a bowl game.
Is Mel Tucker really NOT the greatest coach of all-time that deserved a 28-year, $400 million extension? ** Will the Spartans SHOCK the WORLD and turn things around in 2023?
** fact check: good value
Michigan St Spartans 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
SPARTY was mediocre on offense LY (#8 Big Ten scoring offense, #9 total offense) as they got sketchy QB play partnered with an inconsistent rushing attack. There’s gonna be a fresh face at QB this year and the current leader in the clubhouse for the starting gig is sophomore Noah Kim who looked good in very limited action in 2022 (14-19, 3-0 TD to INT). It’s not gonna be easy for Kim (or Katin Houser) to MATRICULATE the ball down the field thru the air as Michigan St lost an excellent pair of WRs in Keon Coleman and Jayden Reed (combined 103 receptions, 1,434 yards, 12 TD LY). We’re not crazy about the transfer portal additions and the overall depth chart at WR/TE but we’ll see how things go. SPARTY should be able to do good work on the ground as they’ve got a deep RB room and a legit #1 option in Jalen Berger (683, 6 TD) and we expect better things from the offensive line this season. This has the look of a below-average Big Ten offense unless Kim turns out to be much better than expected.
DEFENSE
Michigan St has been a disappointment on defense over the three years of the Mel Tucker experience (#9, #10, LAST, Big Ten scoring defense) but things have the potential to be a little bit better this year. The secondary looks weak but the front seven will be pretty good. They’ve got multiple talented and well-sized bodies up front including DT Simeon Barrow (9 TFL LY) and they’ll feature one of the better LB units in the Big Ten. Leading tackler Cal Haladay filled up the stat sheet LY and was a 1st Team Big Ten honoree whilst Jacoby Windmon (10.5 TFL) and Darius Snow are just two more legit pieces in the middle of the defense. As noted earlier, the secondary gives us sleepless nights, but at least they don’t face too many high-powered THROW GAMES.
SPECIAL TEAMS
RUH ROH. Michigan St is looking at a major rebuilding operation and they’ll really miss ace punter Bryce Baringer who’s off to the NFL.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – You can book another 2-0 start but then they’ve got the powerful Washington Huskies coming to town. They’re part of the Big Ten East so the schedule is obviously be a nightmare, but at least they only have to play one of the BIG ‘UNS (Ohio St) on the road. They miss Wisconsin from the West but draw road tests vs Minnesota and Iowa. That’s an OUCHIE. Also note that their final true home game in on November 4th.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Indiana (Nov 18)
This game is situated between the epic battles with Ohio St and Penn St. That makes it a tough sandwich spot, and the situation could be even worse if the season is down the toilet at this point.
Season Win Total
Market consensus July 25
Over 5 -140
Under 5 +120
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
Slight LEANAGE to the ‘under’. We’d want to see a ‘5.5’ to take a stab but can’t find one in the market as we approach press time. They’ll do well to get to a bowl game.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Mel Tucker has an impressive 8-2 ATS mark when facing non-conference foes (6-1 with Michigan St). Take note, WEEK ONE PLAYAAZ as Central Michigan comes to town.
East Lansing, Michigan is often referred to as the “Festival City” as the city hosts a number of events including the East Lansing Art Festival and the East Lansing Film Festival. Don’t expect to see any DISNEY TRASH at the film festival as the community is strongly against child grooming and movies that peddle satanic imagery to toddlers.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
SPARTY’S MISSION, should they choose to accept it, is to find a way to cobble together six wins, make a bowl game, and pull one major upset along the way. The defense looks acceptable but it’s hard to see the offense scoring many points against the better teams on the schedule. We’ll call for four or five wins but hope that we’re wrong. Go get ’em, SPARTY!