The Michigan State football season is officially back.
The Spartans will open the 2024 season on Friday night against Florida Atlantic in a home non-conference matchup. Michigan State enters this season with a new coaching staff led by new head coach Jonathan Smith, and will be looking to bounce back from a pair of losing seasons.
Florida Atlantic is also looking to rebound from a losing season last year. The Owls were 4-8 under former Texas head coach Tom Herman last year.
Below are the details for Friday night’s matchup between the Spartans and Owls:
Game Details
Game time: 7 p.m. ET on August 30
Location: Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Listen: Spartan Media Network or MSUSpartans.com
A new season, and a new era of Michigan State football, is set to kick off on Friday night at Spartan Stadium as Jonathan Smith makes his debut as the Spartans’ coach against Florida Atlantic.
How to Watch
- Watch the Michigan State Spartans on FuboTV (free trial)
- Watch the Michigan State Spartans on Sling
- Watch the Michigan State Spartans on DirecTV Stream
- Visit MLive’s Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos
After an offseason filled with change, Michigan State fans will finally get a peek at their new-look team. Smith was hired from Oregon State immediately after last year to replace the fired Mel Tucker. He brought in an almost entirely new coaching staff and 61 new players to Michigan State’s roster, most notably quarterback Aidan Chiles. He’ll hope to start to show improvement after a 4-8 campaign last year.
Previewing the Matchup
Key Players to Watch
For Michigan State, all eyes will be on quarterback Aidan Chiles. Chiles is a transfer from Oregon State, where he played under Smith. He'll be looking to make an immediate impact in East Lansing, and his performance will be crucial to the Spartans' success. Chiles has drawn some criticism for telling reporters and fans that “If you bet, take the over,” claiming the Spartans will defeat the Owls by more than 14 points in the opener. Chiles has since tried to say he meant “Take the over” on the Spartans’ win total for the season.
On the other side of the ball, FAU will be looking to their experienced quarterback, who will need to be able to make plays and keep the Owls in the game. The Owls will also need to find a way to slow down the Spartans' offense, which is expected to be explosive under Smith and Chiles.
Key Matchups
One of the key matchups to watch will be the battle between Michigan State's offensive line and FAU's defensive line. The Spartans have a lot of new players on their offensive line, and they will need to be able to protect Chiles and open up holes for the running backs. FAU's defensive line will be looking to disrupt the Spartans' offense and create turnovers. The matchup between the two running backs will be another key aspect of the game. Michigan State's running back will be looking to run through the Owls' defense, while FAU's running back will need to create yards and keep the Spartans' defense honest.
Prediction
The Spartans are expected to win this game and cover the spread. They have a new coaching staff and a lot of new players, but they are also a talented team with a lot of potential. FAU is a good team, but they are not expected to be able to compete with the Spartans on Friday night. The experts are expecting a high-scoring game, so “Take the over” on the total points might be a good bet.
This game could come down to rushing yards, as neither team did well in that area last year. FAU were ranked 110th in the nation, having averaged an unimpressive 115.4 per game. Michigan State, meanwhile, were ranked 127th with 89.5 per game.
While FAU will be hoping to beat the odds on Friday, they were a sub-par 1-6 as the underdog last season. I'm expecting the Spartans to win and cover the 14-point spread while playing at home.
Where to Watch
The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, and you can also stream it live on fuboTV. If you don't have cable, you can still watch the game live for free with a fuboTV free trial or with DirecTV Stream (free trial).
A New Era
This game is a chance for the Spartans to make a statement and show that they are ready to compete in the Big Ten. The Spartans have a lot of new players, but they are also a talented team with a lot of potential. If they can put it all together, they could have a successful season.
Final Thoughts
The Spartans will hope to silence the critics -- and Vegas -- who believe that it won't make a bowl game this season by making a statement in Week 1. With a new coaching staff and a roster full of new faces, this game is a chance for the Spartans to show the world what they are capable of.
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