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ESPN’s FPI predicts every game of Michigan State’s 2021 schedule
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Michigan State is hoping to make a big leap in Year 2 under coach Mel Tucker.
However, ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) is forecasting another tough year for the Spartans. Here’s how FPI projects each of Michigan’s State’s 12 regular season games in 2021:
- Sept. 3: at Northwestern — 34.6% (L)
- Sept. 11: Vs. Youngstown State — 96% (W)
- Sept. 18: at Miami — 15.2% (L)
- Sept. 25: Vs. Nebraska — 61.7% (W)
- Oct. 2: Vs. Western Kentucky — 88.6% (W)
- Oct. 9: at Rutgers — 60.8% (W)
- Oct. 16: at Indiana — 28.5% (L)
- Oct. 30: Vs. Michigan — 51.8% (W)
- Nov. 6: at Purdue — 44.2% (L)
- Nov. 13: Vs. Maryland — 68.7% (W)
- Nov. 20: at Ohio State — 7.6% (L)
- Nov. 27: Vs. Penn State — 34.4% (L)
FPI predicts 5.9 wins for Michigan State here, but projects the Spartans as favorites in six of their 12 contests. If that holds true, Michigan State would accomplish a goal of getting back to bowl eligibility.
This forecast also has Michigan State as a slight favorite over in-state rival Michigan. The Spartans did win last season’s rivalry game vs. the Wolverines, and have won nine of the last 13 meetings.
Michigan State will have to work through a tremendous amount of turnover, as it has upwards of 34 newcomers this season. However, Tucker says fall camp has been running smoothly so far.
Michigan State opens the 2021 season against Northwestern on Sept. 3.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.