Predictions: Michigan State football at Oregon

Angelique S. Chengelis, Madeline Kenney, John Niyo, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Friday’s Michigan State-Oregon game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (9 p.m., Fox/760 AM).

▶Angelique S. Chengelis: The Spartans are coming off a tough home loss to high-powered Ohio State and now play on the road against Oregon, which, after a bit of a slow start, has found a groove and ranks 34th in offense, averaging 454 yards a game despite not having the classic Oregon explosive plays. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been efficient, and has thrown nine touchdowns against on interception, but he could have some trouble with MSU’s pass rush — the Spartans are second in the Big Ten with 15 sacks. Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles is a talent, but he’s young and has made some errors along the way this season. Those need to be cleaned up, and if they are, the Spartans stand a chance in any game. But this is on the road in one of the toughest, loudest venues. Pick: Oregon 34-10

▶ Madeline Kenney: Michigan State left Saturday’s loss to No. 3 Ohio State with the feeling that it left a lot of points on the board. The Spartans moved the ball early on and seemed to match the Buckeyes’ intensity out of the gates, but that momentum faded as a loaded Ohio State team wore Michigan State out. But come Sunday, the Spartans’ motto was to “flush” the loss and turn their focus to Oregon, an opponent Jonathan Smith knows all too well. It’s been engrained in Smith since his playing days at Oregon State to view the Ducks as a rival, but he said on Friday that he’ll have a neutral approach to Oregon this time around. If Michigan State can limit the turnovers, execute better in the red zone and get third down stops, then the Spartans might be able to make the Ducks sweat a bit. Oregon, on the other hand, had started the season off slow, but has improved each week. Dillon Gabriel has been ultra reliable, and the offense the past two games has seemed to have found its stride. Pick: Oregon, 34-17

▶ John Niyo: The schedule won’t let up, and neither will the injuries. That’s a huge problem for Michigan State as it hits the road for a second straight week against a top-10 team. The Spartans haven’t shown they can play mistake-free football, as only Auburn has committed more turnovers among Power 4 teams this season. And they’re not capitalizing on their opportunities, either, with only seven touchdowns to show for their 18 red-zone chances. That won’t get it done against an Oregon team that’s both talented and efficient. Even though the Ducks aren’t hitting the big plays, they’re doing just about everything else right, as Dillon Gabriel’s 82% completion rate shows. Pick: Oregon, 38-17

▶ Bob Wojnowski: The Spartans’ brutal schedule stretch continues, although No. 6 Oregon hasn’t been quite as explosive as expected. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is efficient more than anything, with nine touchdown passes and one interception. Just like last week against the Buckeyes, MSU can hang around if it can hang onto the football. The Spartans’ running game shows promise with Kay’ron Lynch-Adams, and receivers Jaron Glover and Nick Marsh can make big plays. All analysis about the Spartans at this point centers around QB Aidan Chiles, who can scare a defense and scare his own team, with eight interceptions. If the Spartans’ battered offensive line holds up and they run the ball, they can keep it moderately close. Pick: Oregon, 42-16

Michigan State at Oregon

▶ Kickoff: 9 Friday, Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore.

▶ TVradio: FOX/760

▶ Line: Oregon by 23 1/2