Free Press sports writers predict the winners of two Big Ten teams' season openers: Michigan State vs. Northwestern (Friday) and Michigan football vs. Western Michigan (Saturday).
Michigan State at Northwestern, 9 p.m. Friday, ESPN
Rainer Sabin
The Spartans beat Northwestern last season when the Wildcats were strong and Michigan State was feeble. Now the Spartans appear more formidable with an influx of transfers, and Northwestern has weakened following the departures of its top contributors. Expect Michigan State to leave Evanston with a win. The pick: Michigan State 31, Northwestern 20
Jeff Seidel
This is a game of addition and subtraction.