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Well, I assumed looked better than expected, but breaking it down, seems like they had some trick plays, won the turnover battle, and just kept drives alive on the ground.

MSU's run defense looked really good against a Bowling Green team that averaged over 300 ypg on the ground over their final 3 games last year.

WMU's new QB Jon Wassink was only 11-22 for 67 yards and a pick.  So if MSU can force him to have to beat them through the air, that's their best shot at winning this one.

I'm still thinking this is an L though.  If they can win it, it almost certainly means my 4-8 prediction was under.

Yeah, not seeing this as much of a contest after the first half. WMU will fold under the defensive pressure. They don't have any oars left to row their boat.

RG David Beedle and DE Demetrius Cooper both listed on the depth chart this week after leaving with injuries and not returning.

Beedle is particularly important, because true freshman Kevin Jarvis did not look ready for the moment, not that many true freshman OL in their first college game are.

I didn't watch any of the MSU - BG or USC-WMU games, but everyone who did was saying that the MSU pass defense was terrible but the BG QB and receivers messed up too often to take advantage of it. Furthermore, apparently LJ Scott was shut down by the BG defense (39 yds on 15 carries).

In the USC game, Darnold had no TDs and 2 INTs though he was 23-33 for 289. Lewerke had basically the same stats against BG but with 3 TDs and no INTs. It looks like WMU's new QB isn't good, but their RBs put up 263 yards on USC at 5.5 YPC. BG only had 67 on 2.8 YPC, so it seems that WMU's offense will be the deciding factor.

Maybe don't write that post-Fleck Western Michigan epitaph just yet.  No, it's tough to imagine them recruiting at the same level going forward.  But this roster is still mostly comprised of a roster he built, where he was recruiting well above any other MAC program.  They showed it last week by going west and giving USC all they could handle in the Coliseum.  Judging from the Big Ten's struggles in those September west coast games, as well as the Rose Bowl, that shouldn't be quickly dismissed.  The question is whether the Broncos have that good of a rushing attack, or USC's run defense is that bad.  Western Michigan struggled badly in the passing game, and yet still, with a one dimensional offense, put up 250 yards on the ground, at 5.5 ypc.  That appears to be the strength of the Michigan State defense, if you can judge much off one game...against Bowling Green.  Granted, that is a Falcon team that finished last year on a three game winning streak, wanting to run the ball, averaging over 300 ypg on the ground in those 3 wins.  They had 67 yards on 2.8 ypc against Michigan State.  The Spartans played a lot of press coverage against Bowling Green.  Probably more than I've seen them play since 2014.  The front didn't collect sacks, but they got quarterback pressure at a good clip.  The corners did a good job largely, but the deep ball, particularly in slots matched up against safeties, was wide open all day.  That was a frequent complaint in the early Dantonio days, and it seems like he's going back to his bread and butter, and live or die by it.  Bowling Green couldn't take advantage of those, either because of the constant pressure, or because their quarterback was missing his throws.  I think Western does enough to pull the Spartans out of their comfort zone a little more, but I also think the Michigan State run game looks better one week in, after playing four freshman substantially on the line in Week 1.  This one looks like a coin flip to me.
MICHIGAN STATE 31, WESTERN MICHIGAN 30

At least for week 1, true freshman CB Josiah Scott lived up to the preseason hype, particularly considering he was nicked up and unsure if he'd play.  PFF liked a number of Big Ten freshmen in Week 1.

Yeah, bad things happen when the Big Ten's Michigan schools lock horns with the Mac.