The Michigan State Spartans are in a bad way after losing their fifth straight game to open Big Ten play against rival Michigan last week.

The chance to make a bowl game is still up for grabs for the Spartans (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten) but they will need to get started by snapping their losing streak on the road against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3, 3-2).

Saturday’s matchup (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN) remains critical for the Spartans to get back in the win column with coach Jonathan Smith. But on their poor run of form, MSU opens as a 4.5-point underdog, according to FanDuel odds on Sunday.

The Spartans did have one of their stronger defensive performances of conference play against the Wolverines, showing a few signs of encouragement forcing six punts and a fumble after getting carved up by In

See Full Page