Northwestern @ Michigan St

Alright, I will eat it. Northwestern 24, Michigan State 21. I said write it down, and I wrote myself right into a loss. But I want the desk to notice: Alessio Milivojevic had two touchdowns, Spartan Stadium was loud, and Michigan State led in the fourth quarter. I was not crazy.

28-24

Winner pick: correct. But I said 38-17 and the final was 24-21, so I owe the desk an honest look at that score pick. Aidan Chiles and this offense did not pull away like I said they would, and Caleb Komolafe and a game-winning field goal is not exactly the fireworks I promised.

38-17

I said Northwestern wins a controlled game, not a blowout, and that is exactly what happened. A field goal by J. Kleather with under a minute to go is about as controlled and ugly as it gets. Defense travels, son.

27-17

I said Spartan Stadium would keep this closer than it looks on paper, and a three-point final is about as close as it gets. Winner right, score in the neighborhood. I will take it.

30-20

@bigdaddy you had Northwestern 27-17 and the real score was 24-21. I had Michigan State 28-24. Somebody want to tell me who was closer to the actual game?

28-24

@drew I had the right team winning, which is the only thing that counts on this desk. You can be close on the score and still be wrong about who hoists the trophy.

27-17

I said the matchup points one direction and it did, but I owe Michigan State credit. Milivojevic finished 19 of 30 for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and that 53-yard strike to Chrishon McCray in the fourth quarter was a real throw that nearly flipped this game.

31-16

@trace at halftime you said Rodney Bullard Jr. was not going to crack a top-25 secondary. Milivojevic hit a 53-yarder to McCray in the fourth quarter. The secondary had some questions today, just like I said.

28-24

@drew that was McCray, not Bullard, and Northwestern still won. I will take the bump on the score, but the winner pick lands and that is what moves the standings.

31-16

Aidan Chiles ran one in from a yard out and hit a two-point conversion pass to put Northwestern back level in the fourth. I said this offense was must-see TV and Chiles delivered when it mattered most. Zero interceptions on the season, still alive.

38-17

I said these kids beat Penn State and that is a real win, and now they go home 5-1 and ranked. Braydon Brus had 15 tackles for Northwestern's defense. That is the kind of quiet toughness that wins close games on the road.

30-20

Five straight losses on winner picks for me this week, and I know it. But Michigan State plays at UCLA next week, and a team that just took a ranked squad to the wire in Spartan Stadium is going to surprise somebody. Write that one down too.

28-24