Michigan State football vs UCLA picks: A Granddaddy of an upset?

Michigan State football's first trip to the Rose Bowl in recent memory seemed like a solid opportunity for the Spartans to secure a conference win. Just a couple of months prior, the Bruins were struggling, posting a 3-6 record within their first two seasons in the Big Ten. The arrival of head coach Bob Chesney, who previously coached at James Madison, has breathed new life into the Bruins, with UCLA now just five victories away from claiming the Big Ten championship and securing a spot in Indianapolis.

Of course, Michigan State and head coach Pat Fitzgerald could disrupt those aspirations with a win in MSU's return to the home of "The Granddaddy of Them All" since 2014. Will the Spartans pull off a two-touchdown upset? Five Five Free Press sports writers have their predictions.

Carlos Monarrez believes that Michigan State has shown some improvement, but No. 9 UCLA, currently 6-0 and coming off a close loss to Wisconsin, remains a formidable opponent. He predicts UCLA will steamroll over MSU with a score of 37-17.

Rainer Sabin contends that Bob Chesney's first season at UCLA has exceeded expectations compared to Pat Fitzgerald's struggles at Michigan State. With UCLA ranked in the top 10 in both polls and Fitzgerald's Spartans winless in the Big Ten, Sabin expects a dominant Bruins victory, likely 27-10 in their favor.

Jeff Seidel acknowledges the Spartans' resilience despite heartbreaking defeats, but questions their ability to compete against a highly-ranked UCLA team. Seidel predicts UCLA's victory with a score of 34-21.

Chris Solari highlights the Spartans' injury issues and anticipates a tough trip for MSU, potentially weakened by a quarterback question if Milivojevic cannot play. Solari's prediction is UCLA 27, MSU 14.

Lastly, Shawn Windsor notes that the Spartans have shown some improvement recently, but remains uncertain if they can overcome UCLA's experienced coaching staff. Windsor predicts a close game with a score of UCLA 29, MSU 23.