# College Football Week 7: Northwestern Wildcats (4-1) vs. Michigan State Spartans (2-4) Game Preview and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/news/college-football-week-7-northwestern-wildcats-4-1-vs-michigan-state-spartans-2-4-game-prev

> Northwestern Wildcats carry a two-game win streak into East Lansing as Michigan State Spartans try to snap a four-game skid.

By Cole Saturday · Published 2026-10-16 16:02 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Michigan State Spartans try to halt a four-game slide as [Northwestern Wildcats](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/northwestern-wildcats) ride a two-game win streak into Spartan Stadium.

Northwestern sits at 4-1 and has won two straight, while Michigan State has dropped four in a row to fall to 2-4. The two sides meet Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET, with the broadcast on Peacock.

## Game details

- When | Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET
- Where | Spartan Stadium
- TV | Peacock
- Line | Northwestern Wildcats -7 | O/U 49.5 (market view)
- Northwestern Wildcats record | 4-1
- Michigan State Spartans record | 2-4

## The matchup

Northwestern has been rolling. The Wildcats beat Ball State Cardinals 45-14 and Penn State Nittany Lions 34-13 in their last two outings, with their only blemish this season a 23-29 loss to Indiana Hoosiers. Before that stretch they handled Colorado Buffaloes 41-7 and opened the year with a 34-18 win over South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Northwestern has outscored opponents 177-81 on the season.

Michigan State has not had the same luck. The Spartans dropped a one-point game to Illinois Fighting Illini 37-38, then were shut down by Wisconsin Badgers 3-31, fell to Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-31, and lost to Notre Dame Fighting Irish 10-27. Their lone win in that stretch came against Eastern Michigan Eagles, 35-7. Michigan State has been outscored 128-154 for the season.

## Key matchups

With Northwestern averaging well ahead of Michigan State in points scored and the Spartans allowing more points than they've put up this season, the matchup to watch is Northwestern's offense against a Michigan State defense that's been on the wrong end of four straight results. Michigan State's recent defensive numbers, including the 31-point outputs allowed to both Wisconsin and Nebraska, suggest Northwestern's attack could keep finding room to work.

## The pick

Northwestern is a 7.0-point favorite with the total set at 49.5, and the market score sits at Northwestern Wildcats 28, [Michigan State Spartans](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/michigan-state-spartans) 21. Given Northwestern's two-game win streak and scoring margin against Michigan State's four-game slide, the line reflects a real gap between these two teams right now. Northwestern looks like the side with the clearer path here.

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Northwestern Wildcats | Wk6 W 45-14 vs Ball State Cardinals, Wk5 W 34-13 vs Penn State Nittany Lions, Wk4 L 23-29 vs Indiana Hoosiers
- Michigan State Spartans | Wk6 L 37-38 vs Illinois Fighting Illini, Wk5 L 3-31 vs Wisconsin Badgers, Wk4 L 13-31 vs Nebraska Cornhuskers

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/game/2460)

## In this story

- [Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/game/2460)
- [Michigan State Spartans](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/michigan-state-spartans)
- [Northwestern Wildcats](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/northwestern-wildcats)

*Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

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