Michigan-Michigan State score predictions from MLive beat writers

A new era of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry will begin Saturday night in Ann Arbor.

Both programs are 4-3 this season with first-year head coaches, although Michigan’s Sherrone Moore has been part of the rivalry as an assistant coach for the previous six years.

Jonathan Smith and his Spartans snapped a three-game losing streak with a resounding 32-20 victory against Iowa last week and will look to carry that momentum into the Big House.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines are trying to snap a two-game skid in which they were outscored by Washington and Illinois 48-24 with a minus-4 turnover margin.

Before the season, many believed Michigan would be a heavy favorite after dominating the previous two matchups, but Bettors expect a close game on Saturday. Here are score predictions from MLive’s beat writers:

Aaron McMann

I see two programs with identical records going in different directions. If MSU plays like it did last week against Iowa and limits turnovers, there’s a good chance the Spartans will come out victorious. Michigan desperately needs Will Johnson to play and disrupt Aidan Chiles’ rhythm. Meanwhile, I don’t anticipate the Wolverines suddenly catching on on offense.

Could they limit turnovers and keep some scoring drives going? Sure, but your chances depend on a complicated game. If you scored 5.5 or 6 points with MSU earlier in the week, good for you. I thought those were too many points. Michigan makes this clear, but fails to cover it in a grinding, protracted fight between two programs still trying to figure it out. Prediction: Michigan 20, Michigan State 17

ryan zuke

Let me start my prediction by saying that this is the least confident I’ve felt picking the Wolverines in a long time. They are 1-6 against the spread this season, which isn’t all that surprising given what we’ve seen in their poor passing game and the costly turnovers that have plagued the team all year.

Michigan’s Big Ten and national title hopes are quashed, but, man, if it can’t find a way to beat its in-state rival at home after beating the Spartans 49-0 the year before, then it’s officially over. in crisis mode on Ann. Arbor. It won’t be pretty, but Michigan finds a way to get a win on Saturday. Prediction: Michigan 24, Michigan State 17

andres kahn

This Michigan team has a fatal flaw that makes other issues irrelevant. The quarterback play has been poor and that is why Michigan’s ceiling is severely limited. The Wolverines won’t be able to beat really good teams on their schedule, but that shouldn’t stop them from taking on Michigan State.

The Spartans, like the four teams Michigan has already beaten, are just fine. They don’t have the run defense to make Michigan one-dimensional nor the offensive playmakers to exploit a vulnerable secondary.

As long as the Wolverines don’t have, say, -2 in turnover margin, they will parade Paul Bunyan across the field at Michigan Stadium at 11 pm on Saturday. Prediction: Michigan 23, Michigan State 14

Matt Wenzel

Many people saw this game as an automatic L for the Spartans coming into the season, but a lot has changed in two months. The defending national champions are struggling under Moore, while Smith appears to be on track in the first year of rebuilding.

I don’t know if Michigan State can repeat its performance against Iowa at the point of attack, but I’ll pick Smith to become the second straight Michigan State coach to win his first game against the Wolverines. Prediction: Michigan State 23, Michigan 20

• BET: Check our guide Best Michigan Betting Houseswhere our team of sports betting experts reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds from multiple sportsbooks.