BYB Top 25 Countdown - #20 Michigan State Spartans

The following post is part of the BYB 2013 Preseason Top 25 Countdown. Continue to check in Monday-Friday each week as I count down the Top 25 teams in college football. I swear, even if I flake out and don’t do any other posts, I will continue the countdown.

These picks are a reflection of how I predict the college football season will shake out. I performed a complex formula and broke down each team’s schedule, predicting wins, losses and push games, you know, games that I’m to chicken shit to actually pick a winner. I then ranked the teams with the most predicted wins highest and the teams with the least predicted wins lowest.

This isn’t precise. For example, I have Texas at #23 with six wins, zero losses and six pushes. This means UT could finish 12-0, 6-6 or anything in between. While Texas is ranked low I think the Horns have a great chance at finishing the season ranked high.

The Top 25 is also influenced by other factors like strength of schedule and conference affiliation.  

Linebacker Max Bullough

Michigan State had a disappointing 2012 after strong showings in the previous two seasons, going 6-6 with a 17-16 win against TCU in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

2012 starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell returns for the Spartans but will be pushed for the starting role by Connor Cook, who sparked the team’s bowl win against TCU. 

Aside from the quarterback battle the success of Michigan State this season will likely be determined by the performance of the brothers Bullough. Max Bullough is a senior linebacker and MSU’s best defender. He will be counted on to keep the Spartan defense playing at a high level. In 2012 the Spartans finished fourth nationally in total defense, ninth in scoring defense, eighth in rush defense and ninth in passing defense. 

The defensive line is young but the defense will be led by Bullough and other returning starting linebackers Denicos Allen, and Taiwan Jones. All Big Ten corner Darqueze Dennard joins returning starting safeties Isaiah lewis and Kurtis Drummond.

While Max Bullough is being counted on to keep up the high level of play on defense, his brother Riley Bullough will attempt to fill the void left at running back by the loss of Le’Veon Bell. The receiving corps in experienced but also dropped a lot of passes last season.

I have Michigan State at 8-2-2 with losses at Notre Dame and at Nebraska and push games against Michigan and at Northwestern. The rest of the slate are weak non-conference opponents and struggling B1G foes.