ESPN’s FPI is predicting all the action of Week 3, and Michigan State’s road trip to Washington is particularly of interest.

The two programs have 3 all-time meetings in the series with the most recent matchup coming in the 1997 Aloha Bowl. Nick Saban was the head coach as the Spartans took a 51-23 loss at the hands of the Huskies.

Before that, the two sides played a home-and-home series in the 1969-70 seasons. Hugh Duffy Daugherty was Michigan State’s coach in both matchups, including a 27-11 win in East Lansing during the 1969 season.

Now in 2022, the Football Power Index is predicting the game to be a tight one. The Spartans head to Seattle as a ranked underdog on the road, but the FPI gives Michigan State a 53.4% chance of coming away with the win.

Michigan State is 2-0 so far to begin Mel Tucker’s third season in East Lansing, but those wins came against Western Michigan and Akron. The Spartans would love to go 3-0 in nonconference play – including a quality win over a Power 5 opponent in Washington.

The game is a marquee one for the weekend, and ESPN’s Greg McElroy and Chris “Bear” Fallica addressed that matchup recently. Both analysts believe the only play in the game is to take Washington +3, but Fallica noted the Spartans were 4-0 as single-digit underdogs in 2021.

Can the Spartans keep the good times rolling? Saturday’s kickoff is set for 7:30 pm ET.