#Mel Tucker

LINCOLN - One more offseason. One more preseason. One more football season. And one more postseason. All with a new commissioner, and an eye toward a larger future in the league. One more trip around the sun with this iteration of Big Ten football. And one more year with divisional schedules. One more year, for certain, of a Big Ten title game. The…

College football's 2022 season came to an end last week when Georgia walloped TCU in the national championship game, giving the Bulldogs back-to-back titles. Immediately following that game, several publications released "Way-Too-Early" Top 25 projections for the 2023 season. Not surprisingly, the Michigan State Spartans were not included among…

The second big weekend of spring games features three early favorites to win the College Football Playoff National Championship. Georgia, the reigning champion in college football, takes the field in the afternoon, along with big hitters like Alabama, Ohio State and Miami. As we get set for the loaded slate this weekend, Chip Patterson broke down…

The Michigan Wolverines have posted a historic 25-3 record over the last two seasons and will look to keep that momentum rolling with an experienced and talented team in 2023. While professional declarations will not be finalized until next Sunday, Team 144 is expected to return a minimum of 15 starters, with optimistic projections ranging as high…

Not sure I understand how UW can take in 26 or 27 players and keep its total under 85 unless they are able to go over due to covid or some other rule. They must be expecting some serious attrition? -chris taylor They are indeed expecting some serious attrition. As of the time that I'm typing this there are slotted to be 92 scholarship players. That…

No. 10 Michigan State meets No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be televised on ESPN. Pitt (11-2) won the ACC championship under coach Pat Narduzzi this season. The Panthers, however, will be without Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett. The Pitt…

Michigan State heads into 2022 as one of the top curiosities in college football, with the Spartans attempting to follow up on last year's surprising 11-2 season, No. 9 national ranking and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory, all of which allowed third-year coach Mel Tucker to gain traction as a rising force in the profession. "Last year, we as a staff…

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) hit the road on Saturday to visit the Michigan State Spartans (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) at Spartan Field. Wisconsin is coming off a 42-7 beatdown of Northwestern this past weekend - a game in which they dominated from start to finish. On the flip side, Mel Tucker and the Spartans…

The Big Ten has been in the news cycle often this offseason and not because of its reigning champion nor its biggest national brand. But we're not here to talk realignment- let's dive into the landscape of the Big Ten conference for the 2022 college football season. As a refresher, the Michigan Wolverines won their first outright conference title…

It's tough to know when to take a team seriously, when to treat it as a true contender. Several teams climb up the polls each season, but nearly every College Football Playoff ultimately ends up with the usual suspects. Only one team in the playoff era, LSU in the 2019 season, has crashed the party and come out on top. I've been slow to see…

Week 12 in the Big Ten included surprising scares for the two best teams in the conference, as No. 2 Ohio State (11-0) escaped a close one at Maryland (6-5) and No. 3 Michigan (11-0) needed a last-minute field goal to survive against Illinois (7-4) at home. A possible explanation is that both teams were already looking ahead to Week 13, when…

college football odds series for our Michigan State Penn State prediction and pick. Penn State is heading for a 10-2 season in which the two losses were against Michigan and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions can't do anything about those two big games, but they can do something about this game against Michigan State, played for the Land Grant Trophy,…

Week 12 in the Big Ten included surprising scares for the two best teams in the conference, as No. 2 Ohio State (11-0) escaped a close one at Maryland (6-5) and No. 3 Michigan (11-0) needed a last-minute field goal to survive against Illinois (7-4) at home. A possible explanation is that both teams were already looking ahead to Week 13, when…

Week 12 in the Big Ten included surprising scares for the two best teams in the conference, as No. 2 Ohio State (11-0) escaped a close one at Maryland (6-5) and No. 3 Michigan (11-0) needed a last-minute field goal to survive against Illinois (7-4) at home. A possible explanation is that both teams were already looking ahead to Week 13, when…

The Game has rarely meant so much - and may never matter so much again. Ohio State (11-0) and Michigan (11-0), the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, respectively, will square off on Saturday with a playoff berth essentially on the line for the second straight season. It is the first time the teams will meet with…

Two kicks: one with nine seconds left, one with zeroes on the clock. Just one miss would've rewritten this year's predictable College Football Playoff picture; had both gone awry, the playoff race would've imploded into chaos just steps from the finish line of the regular season. No team in the Bowl Subdivision is more adept at winning close games…

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Indiana football looks to snap a seven-game losing streak in its fifth and final road game of the 2022 season on Saturday at Michigan State. The Hoosiers are coming off a 56-14 loss at No. 2 Ohio State in a game that featured redshirt sophomore Dexter Williams II replacing Connor Bazelak at quarterback. Indiana allowed 662…

The Michigan State Spartans take the field Saturday at Spartan Stadium for the final time this season to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. Michigan State will be honoring the team's seniors during the pregame festivities and the battling it out for the Old Brass Spittoon with IU, a trophy that began in 1950. Saturday marks the 69th meeting all-time…

Reaching a bowl game wasn't a problem for Michigan State last year. The Spartans won their first eight games and capped a resurgent season with a Peach Bowl victory against Pittsburgh to finish 11-2. Now at the midpoint of this season, Michigan State is facing an uphill battle just to reach six wins and become bowl eligible. That is the result of…

Welcome to Week 7 of the college football season. Each week, our VSiN experts will combine to give their best bets on select games. We had a 6-3 showing in Week 6 and we're looking to ride that momentum into Week 7. Odds are from DraftKings (unless noted) as of Wednesday night. Season record: 28-32-1 Saturday, Noon ET Wes Reynolds: FOX's "Big Noon…

Betting stats are provided by BetMGM.* A new set of rankings rules college football in Week 10 with the release of the first set of rankings from the College Football Playoff committee on Tuesday night. One of the biggest surprises in the rankings came in the Big Ten, when Michigan was put outside the top four at No. 5, behind ACC leader…

Betting stats are provided by BetMGM.* A new set of rankings rules college football in Week 10 with the release of the first set of rankings from the College Football Playoff committee on Tuesday night. One of the biggest surprises in the rankings came in the Big Ten, when Michigan was put outside the top four at No. 5, behind ACC leader…

college football odds series for our Michigan State Michigan prediction and pick. The Michigan State Spartans are laboring through a very difficult season. Head coach Mel Tucker received a massive pay raise last year when MSU administrators worried that LSU or other potential suitors in the coaching carousel might snap him up. Michigan State was…

college football odds series for our Wisconsin Michigan State prediction and pick. The Wisconsin Badgers have entered a new era. Now we get to find out how permanent or long-lasting that era will be. The school fired head coach Paul Chryst after an abysmal start to the 2022 season. There were worries that Wisconsin football had stagnated and that…

college football odds series for our Akron Michigan State prediction and pick. Joe Moorhead spent the past two years with Mario Cristobal at Oregon. He helped the Ducks reach the Fiesta Bowl in the 2020 season, and he enabled Oregon to reach the Pac-12 Championship Game last season. However, Moorhead missed a few games in 2021 due to health…

The Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. Check out our college football odds series for our Minnesota Penn State prediction and pick. This season started well for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They hammered Colorado and crushed Michigan State on the road. That wipeout of the Spartans in East Lansing was something no one…

In the midst of a three-game losing streak, Michigan State returns to Spartan Stadium this week welcoming what will likely be the best team they will face all season. Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) comes to East Lansing ranked No. 3 in the country, having outscored opponents 244-74 through five weeks. Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) is trying to avoid its…

Betting stats are provided by BetMGM.* A new set of rankings rules college football in Week 10 with the release of the first set of rankings from the College Football Playoff committee on Tuesday night. One of the biggest surprises in the rankings came in the Big Ten, when Michigan was put outside the top four at No. 5, behind ACC leader…

I don't want to, I don't have to, and you can't make me. (all times CT) Straight-Up: Do you need to ask? Against the Spread: Ohio State 10-3 MaximumSam: OSU just trying to avoid injuries. OSU 50, Northwestern 17 BoilerUp89: Why is this murder on television? RockyMtnBlue: That is a huge line for a conference game. Especially considering the…

There's a lot of news each day. Illini Inquirer will try to make it easier to digest each weekday morning with the Daily Digest. ***** Michigan State suspended four players for their involvement in Saturday's postgame melee in the tunnel following a 27-9 loss at Michigan. Michigan State announced Tank Brow n, Khary Crump, Angelo Grose and Zion…

After an impressive 11-win campaign in 2021, Michigan State is looking to build on its success heading into 2022. Mel Tucker and the Spartans have been a tough one for the oddsmakers to figure out, as the current over/under projection for MSU is set at 7.5. The schedule is certainly tough, with the gauntlet of the Big Ten East and a non-conference…

Early betting lines are available for half of Penn State's 2022 football schedule, including the most notable games. And for the most part, oddsmakers like the Lions - except Ohio State, of course. Fanduel has listed the following early lines for Penn State: Sept. 1: Penn State is a 3-point favorite at Purdue Sept. 17: Penn State is a 1-point…

Week Nine is upon us which means the annual in-state rivalry matchup is here. Michigan is looking to avenge last year's loss and keep the undefeated season alive while Michigan State is looking to play spoiler. Jim Harbaugh is also looking for his first win against Mel Tucker in his third try. The records may not be equal, but as past years have…

The college football schedule turns to Week 9 as the month of October draws to a close with division and conference races heating up. Most of the usual preseason favorites are still well in contention, including ACC leader Clemson, Ohio State out of the Big Ten, and defending national champion Georgia from the SEC. But there's still plenty to sort…

Jimbo Fisher's (lack of) performance has been the talk of college football this season, and rightfully so. After starting 2021 ranked No. 6, the Aggies finished unranked. Despite that underperformance, the Aggies again started No. 6 this fall, and at press time it looks like Texas A&M will not only finish out of the rankings come January, they…

Much like the two teams that will take the field Saturday, our Michigan team enters the week ahead of our Michigan State team. Aaron McMann and Andrew Kahn have both surged in the standings in recent weeks to take a multiple-game lead heading into rivalry week: Standings through Week 8: Aaron McMann: 39-29 Andrew Kahn: 37-31 Matt Wenzel: 35-33 Kyle…

Sure, it's possible. Even the most cynical Michigan State fan has to realize keeping the Paul Bunyan Trophy in East Lansing isn't as far-fetched as some would make it out to be. Even with the Spartans' recent track record of playing underwhelming football, Michigan State has a chance to take down Michigan Saturday at The Big House. The Wolverines…

Every Tuesday, Matt Hayes tackles the 10 hottest topics in the Big Ten … I don't want to be the guy who has to point this out, but maybe, just maybe, Ohio State - a Playoff lock in the minds of many - is a product of one of the easiest schedules in the nation. I know, I know, it's Scarlet and Gray blasphemy. It couldn't have anything to do with…

As the final month of the regular season nears and Big Ten teams get more games under their belts, it's beginning to become clearer which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. There are five games on the docket in the conference this weekend, and DraftKings Sportsbook has odds available for four of them. Let's take a look at this week's…

Michigan State vs Michigan prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 9, Saturday, October 29 Date: Saturday, October 29 Game Time: 7:30 ET Venue: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI How To Watch: ABC Record: Michigan State (3-4), Michigan (7-0) - The Spartans - particularly head coach Mel Tucker - have a strange mind grip over Jim Harbaugh and…

After a trying week that saw Paul Chryst removed as head coach, the Wisconsin Badgers responded by soundly defeating Northwestern, 42-7. The Badgers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) have no time to rest on their laurels, as they have to travel to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans in Big Ten crossover play. For newly-promoted interim head coach…

Wisconsin vs Michigan State prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 7, Saturday, October 15 Date: Saturday, October 15 Game Time: 4:00 ET Venue: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI How To Watch: FOX Record: Wisconsin (3-3), Michigan State (2-4) - Did Wisconsin snap out of it? Granted, beating Northwestern is about as difficult as dogging the NFL…

The Mel Tucker Era of Michigan State football has been a wild ride so far. Arriving in East Lansing shortly before COVID-19 did, a thoroughly-disrupted first offseason and diminished roster led to a 2-5 debut season. But Tucker navigated the transfer portal better than any coach has thus far and, energized by talent such as RB Kenneth Walker III,…

Maybe you weren't aware, but we are less than 100 days away from the start of the 2022 College Football Season. The countdown is officially on for tailgating, marching bands and the most passionate fan bases in the country. Not to mention, a prolific sports betting base here in Michigan. Both Michigan and Michigan State are coming off strong 2021…

After barely beating Texas A&M, Alabama should stay No. 1 in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, if only barely. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, switching Georgia back from No. 2 would mean rewarding a win against Auburn, which voters in the poll are unlikely to do. Whether Alabama deserves to be No. 1 is another question, and one…

Observations on Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan State game by Joey Kaufman: • Short-attention span synopsis: The Buckeyes ace their road test with another Big Ten beatdown. Points came by air rather than ground. C.J. Stroud's Heisman Trophy push revs up. Consider it a midseason stride. Michigan State has dipped in weight classes. • Pregame…

In two weeks, the Big Ten has gone from having five ranked teams to three: Wisconsin fell out of the rankings after Week 2 and this week, Michigan State was dropped after a poor showing at Washington (39-28 final). The three teams that remain in the top 25, though - (3) Ohio State, (4) Michigan, and (14) Penn State - looked great in Week 3 matchups…

Aaron Judge's home run chase is over. Now, the best story in sports comes from the most unexpected corner imaginable - Kansas football. The 19th-ranked Jayhawks (5-0) are in the polls for the first time in 13 years - ending the longest drought among Power Five conference teams - and are tied atop the Big 12 standings. With two months left in the…

A hefty Big Ten favorite, a significant line move on a MAC total, and an upset pick in the battle for the Milk Can headline our Week 6 college football best bets. We've made it to yet another College Football Saturday! After all of the chaos and thrilling finishes that transpired a week ago, there is bound to be more fun in store in Week 6. It's a…

Two weeks ago was a not fun 2-3 as I spent the day soaking up one of three available to us on Sanibel Island* before heading to the Iowa watch party in Ft. Myers. It was a blast, relatively speaking. But that was 2 Hawkeye offensive touchdowns ago and the time I normally spend punching out this column last week was used shepherding a 2-year-old…