B1G schedule analysis - Michigan State

Games in which Michigan State will be heavily favored:
Youngstown State
Florida Atlantic
Central Michigan
Michigan
Minnesota
Indiana

Games in which Michigan State will be a heavy underdog:
none

Favorable match-up games:
Wisconsin
@Northwestern

Unfavorable match-up games:
@Notre Dame
@Ohio State
@Nebraska
@Iowa

Summary:
Sparty will face murderers row on the road with games @ Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Iowa.  While Michigan State easily boasts the best set of offensive skill position talent in the conference, their defense will once again be a question mark.  They have some talented players on defense, and one potential All-American in William Gholston, but I don't trust their secondary to stop anyone in passing situations. 

If the Spartans take care of business at home, including a date with potential conference favorite Wisconsin, and split the brutal road schedule, I think the season will be deemed a success.  I'm sure MSU fans will only consider the season a success with a Legends Division Championship and a spot in the first ever B1G conference championship game in Indy, but I believe that the road schedule is too big of a gauntlet for the Spartans to overcome unscathed.  I also worry about the Spartans inability to put back-back great seasons together historically.  At the end of the day I see Michigan State winning eight games, which would be a tremendous disappointment with their fan base.