Sagarin Ratings: MSU #23, Furman #198

MSU: 0-0/0-0. Furman: 0-0/0-0.
Friday, September 2, 2016.
7:00 pm ET.
Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.

Weather: 70 and sunny; will dip to 60 by 4th quarter.
Line: MSU favored by 45 (oddsshark.com)
TV: BTN

Depth Chart - MSU - Furman

Going up against Furman, an FCS team that finished 4-7 a year ago, means a potential blowout this evening in East Lansing.  The Paladins lost 45-3 to Va Tech last year, but beat a woeful Central Florida team 17-16 (UCF finished 0-12 last year).

On offense, the ES is looking for sharpness out of our QB crew (Tyler O'Connor) and good protection up front with a newly revamped O-Line led by LG Brian Allen and C Kodi Keiler.  It will be interesting to watch our receiving crew - RJ Shelton has the wheels and experience, but is Felton Davis (6-4, 192, So.) the real deal?  We know LJ Scott is the stud, but the best name on the team goes to FB Prescott Line (#45).

On defense, it's usually about the DBs - Darian Hicks (#2), Demetrious Cox (#7), Montae Nicholson (#9), and Vayante Copeland (#13) all have experience... but, they were also torched by 'Bama in the National Semifinals.  The proof is in the pudding.  How close to the No Fly Zone do they get?  

On special teams, we have Michael Geiger returning at kicker - he had a rough year early on in 2015; let us see the extent that Jake Hartbarger changes the field at punter (if at all necessary vs Furman).  It's exciting to have RJ Shelton return kicks - he's got the wheels, a speed burner.  A runback or two vs. Furman would be nice.

FINAL PREDICTION?   ES sez... MSU 38, Furman 10.

Freep:  MSU 48-6
DetNews:  Charboneau, MSU 41-10.  Chengelis, MSU 38-3. Wojo, MSU 44-10.  Niyo, MSU 45-13.
LSJ: Couch, MSU 36-13. Solari, MSU 48-6.
USAToday:  MSU 48-14
BTN: Dinehart, MSU 38-7. Merriman, MSU 35-10. Yarina, MSU 41-10.