Michigan State football vs Nebraska picks: Who opens B1G play with win?

How long has it been since Michigan State football coach Pat Fitzgerald won a Big Ten game? A whopping 1,491 days will have passed between Fitzgerald’s most recent conference win, with Northwestern in 2022, and his first Big Ten game helming the Spartans. There are at least a couple good omens for Fitzgerald going into MSU’s Big Ten opener vs. Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 26 (5 p.m., Big Ten Network).

The Spartans will face the Cornhuskers in the land of the Green and White, a bit like where his then-Wildcats were victorious: Dublin, Ireland – another land of the green, if you will. And who did they beat? Nebraska, 28-22, in the final season opener for ‘Huskers coach Scott Frost.

Who to watch in Michigan State vs Nebraska

Of course, by the time the next season rolled around, Fitzgerald was gone after losing the next 11 games of 2022, as was Frost.

Can Fitzgerald repeat the feat against now-Nebraska coach Matt Rhule? Five Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on the chances of that.

Last week’s 27-10 loss to third-ranked Notre Dame was a huge moral win for the Spartans. Was that an anomaly, or is that a sign coach Pat Fitzgerald is already starting to turn things around? We’ll see how effective he is at keeping his team from getting complacent with a tough task against a good offensive Cornhuskers team in the Big Ten opener. The pick: Nebraska 24, MSU 19.

Matt Rhule’s first three seasons at Nebraska were rather underwhelming. Even with the Cornhuskers off to a 3-0 start in Year 4 of Rhule’s regime, it’s hard to believe they are for real. After all, they have yet to face a Power Four team or play on the road. Well, on Saturday, they will do both. Nebraska will struggle to deal with the challenge of it all against a MSU team that has exhibited positive signs at the outset of Pat Fitzgerald’s tenure. The pick: MSU 28, Nebraska 24.

The Spartans showed plenty of fight and promise against Notre Dame. And I think this is going to be a tight, close game that the Spartans could win. In fact, part of me thinks they will win. But one stat gives me incredible pause: MSU is ranked No. 109 (out of 138) in red-zone defense. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s red-zone offense is ranked No. 1 after scoring on every red-zone trip in its first three games. That’s not a formula for an MSU upset. The pick: Nebraska 27, MSU 24.

The Spartans’ discipline is tested and remains strong, with penalties limited and protection improved for Milivojevic to deliver enough downfield passes to allow Edwards room to run. Joe Rossi’s defense comes up with a big fourth quarter, and Fitzgerald gets his first Big Ten victory since Oct. 16, 2022 when Northwestern beat Rutgers. The pick: MSU 27, Nebraska 21.

Pat Fitzgerald’s Spartans didn’t make a statement last week at Notre Dame but they did make a mild announcement: They kinda belonged on the field with one of the best teams in college football. The Fighting Irish were clearly better and more talented, and they wore MSU down. Still, the Spartans aren’t here to play around, and they’ll get their first memorable win against the Cornhuskers. The pick: MSU 23, Nebraska 20.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football vs Nebraska picks: Who opens B1G play with win?