Reasons for and against successful 2019 season for Michigan State football
By Ryan Kay
Reason for success: The schedule
Many reason to point to why the 2019 schedule is more favorable than the 2018 schedule for the Spartans.
In 2018, the Spartans traveled many miles when they played at Arizona State, Penn State, Maryland and Nebraska. The Spartans furthest road game in 2019 will arguably be against the worst road team in the Big Ten in Rutgers. They travel two shorter road trips when they go against Northwestern and Michigan which is a bus drive away.
Michigan State does have to travel to Wisconsin and Ohio State, but overall the 2019 schedule based on distances of travel is better than 2018’s.
In 2018, the Spartans had one bye during the third week which was between the Arizona State and Indiana games. In 2019, they have two bye weeks with the first one coming between the Wisconsin and Penn State games and the second between the Penn State and Illinois games.
From Oct. 13 to Nov. 8, Michigan State will only have played one game against Penn State. With all of the injuries the Spartans suffered last season, time off to rest and heal in mid October to early November could be very beneficial.
Call it math, science or just luck but Michigan State plays better in odd number years and there are statistics to back it up. Since 2011, the Spartans are 46-9 on odd number years compared to being 28-23 on even number years during that same time. Michigan State hopes the pattern of playing well during odd number years continues.
Crossover divisional opponents favor the Spartans as they avoid playing the up-and-coming teams like Purdue, Nebraska and Minnesota. Playing at Wisconsin as opposed to playing at Iowa is beneficial as Michigan State has not played well at Kinnick Stadium. Facing Illinois at home is better than having to go to West Lafayette and playing the Boilermakers.
The 2019 Big Ten schedule overall is better suited for Michigan State as opposed to the one they played in 2018.
The schedule looks less daunting overall with games like Tulsa, Wisconsin and Illinois as opposed to Utah State and two emerging Big Ten teams in Purdue and Nebraska. On paper it may not look it but if you analyze it, the 2019 schedule is better suited and more favorable to Michigan State than 2018’s.