Michigan State’s win over Michigan changed the mood around Spartan Stadium in a hurry, but the next test comes with a different kind of pressure. Washington is coming in off a painful loss to Penn State, and both teams still have something real on the line with bowl eligibility in play.
The Huskies are 5-4 overall and 2-4 in conference play, so one more win gets them where they want to go. Michigan State’s path is much steeper: the Spartans need to win all three of their remaining games to qualify for a bowl. That makes this one feel urgent for both sides, even if the circumstances are a little different.
Michigan State also has to carry the emotional weight of last week’s result. The Spartans didn’t just cover against Michigan, they controlled the game and won 15-6, finishing a clean sweep after taking Michigan State +13.5 and Under 39.5.
That result pushed the season record to 9-8-1. Now comes the harder part: backing up a rivalry upset with another focused effort.
That’s where the concern sits. Football has a way of making the week after a huge emotional win feel heavier than it should.
Michigan State has to summon that same edge again, but this time there’s no rivalry fuel and no short trip to lean on. Washington is making the cross-country trek after its own heartbreak, so the Huskies may not arrive with much bounce either.
That’s why this matchup points toward a grind. Washington can throw the ball almost at will against plenty of teams, but Michigan State’s defense has shown it can hold up, including against a prolific passing quarterback. On the other side, the Spartans have the fewest points per game in the Big Ten at 19.3, even if the offense has started to turn a corner lately.
Vegas has Washington as a 3.5-point road favorite with the total set at 43.5. The better angle here looks like the under. I’d rather have the spread closer to Washington -2.5 or even -3.0 for the push chance, but the stronger play is the low side of the total.
Michigan State may have enough left to make this competitive, but the offense still feels limited, even if some starters return from injury. The most likely outcome is a low-scoring game that stays under the number, with Washington doing just enough to get out of East Lansing with the win.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Sends A Clear Message After Michigan State Stuns Duke
Michigan States win over No. 2 Duke in the Champions Classic gave the Spartans an early-season jolt, and Tom Izzo made sure to frame it as more than just a headline result. With his team off to a 3-0 start, the veteran coach spent his postgame media session praising Dukes quality while also crediting his own group for the way it handled the moment, a reminder that this was the kind of November test he has long wanted for his program.
Izzo also touched on individual performances from across the roster, using the night as a snapshot of where Michigan State is and where it still needs to grow. He even nodded to the football teams recent win over Michigan, tying the moment into a bigger stretch of momentum around campus, while leaving the larger question hanging on how far this basketball team can carry that early confidence. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces One Early Test After Its Duke Statement
Michigan State gets right back to work at home after its statement win over Duke, and the early-season buzz around the Spartans has only grown with a 3-0 start and a No. 5 ranking. Northern Iowa arrives with a 2-1 record, giving Tom Izzos team another chance to show that the win over the Blue Devils was not just a one-night surge but part of a real early rhythm.
The matchup also offers a different kind of test, because Michigan State now has to handle the expectations that come with being ranked this high while still sorting out what kind of team it wants to be. Northern Iowa has already shown enough to suggest it can make things uncomfortable, so this is the sort of game that can reveal whether the Spartans are staying sharp or settling in after the Duke high. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Cooper Is Already Fighting For His NBA Role
Carson Coopers pro path has taken another turn, and this one gives him a clearer place to prove he belongs. The former Michigan State center has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after previously being with the Memphis Grizzlies, setting him up to split time between the NBA roster and the teams G-League affiliate.
For a player trying to carve out a long-term role, the opportunity is as important as the jersey change. Cooper enters a crowded frontcourt as a backup center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney, and he takes the spot vacated when Lawson Lovering was waived to make room for him. [Read more 🡒]