Picking the game
Carlos Monarrez: Jump around, Spartans fans! Sure, the Badgers trounced Northwestern last week, getting their post-firing bump after canning Paul Chryst the week prior. But MSU isn’t a green-and-white version of Northwestern, especially for homecoming and with bowl eligibility pretty much being decided with this game, the first of its last four winnable games, ’cause the 2-4 Spartans ain’t winning at Michigan or at Penn State. The pick: MSU 27, Wisconsin 26.
Rainer Sabin: In Jim Leonhard’s rousing debut against Northwestern last Saturday, the Badgers appeared rejuvenated as they demolished the Wildcats by 35 points. The firing of Paul Chryst and the subsequent promotion of Leonhard may have jumpstarted the Badgers and sowed the seeds for a second-half surge. Meanwhile, the Spartans have stagnated and shown little progress in addressing their most troublesome concerns. With no signs of change, MSU, a home underdog, appears headed for its fifth straight loss. The pick: Wisconsin 30, MSU 21.
Jeff Seidel: It’s like a nasty, vicious snowball rolling downhill. A bad season will get even worse for the Spartans. Jim Leonard will have the Badgers riding high. And all of these losses have big-time consequences. You are going to see more MSU commits start to have second thoughts. The pick: Wisconsin 28, MSU 14.
Chris Solari: The Spartans find some traction early against the Badgers’ defense, with Thorne working efficiently before the lack of a run game halts that. Wisconsin capitalizes on the persistent problems in the MSU secondary, with Mertz spreading the ball around to send Tucker’s team into the bye week with a fifth straight defeat, albeit a more competitive one than the previous four. The pick: Wisconsin 28, MSU 24.
Shawn Windsor: This is a critical game for Mel Tucker and his Spartans. Lose here and a bowl game seems improbable and three-orfour-win season seems more probable. For the first time in a few weeks, MSU should be able to match up in the trenches, which should keep this game close. Still, the timing stinks for the Spartans, as the Badgers come in after having lost their coach, Paul Chryst. The pick: Wisconsin 23, MSU 20.