Michigan State Football: 3 bold prediction vs. Tulsa in Week 1

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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 21: Defensive end Jacub Panasiuk #96 of the Michigan State Spartans is congratulated by his brother, defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk #72 of the Michigan State Spartans, after sacking quarterback Peyton Ramsey of the Indiana Hoosiers for a 4-yard loss during the first quarter at Spartan Stadium on October 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Indiana 17-9. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State defense pulls off the shutout

As a result of the Golden Hurricane gaining negative yardage, they won’t score against the Spartans. Moreover, Tulsa won’t cross the 50-yard-line very often in this game, if at all (that’s your bonus bold prediction).

If you didn’t know how good this defense is, consider this, they held a high-powered Oregon offense to seven points in the Redbox Bowl.

They gave up 20 or more points six times last season, but if you peel back that number you find the 26 points they gave up to Ohio State was the Buckeyes’ second-lowest total of the season (and it was skewed because of Spartan turnovers), and out of the 20 they gave up to Central Michigan, 17 of that was when the game was already out of reach and the Spartans were playing third-string guys.

Michigan State’s defensive line is led by Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams and the Panasiuk brothers. When the Golden Hurricane can’t run against the nation’s No. 1 defense, they going to have to throw against one of the best secondaries in the country, and they simply won’t be able to sustain long drives.

If Tulsa scores, it will be on special teams or a turnover return for a touchdown, not on offense.

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