Bill Connelly’s SP+ likes the Huskies on Saturday against Michigan State.

No. 8 Washington heads to East Lansing for the return trip in a home-and-home series with the Spartans. Last year, UW used this game in Seattle as its official coming out party, stunning then-No. 11 Michigan State in a game it led by as many as 25 in before calling off the dogs and settling for a 39-28 victory.

This year’s contest gives UW the opportunity to prove itself as a legitimate threat to make the College Football Playoff. Michigan State is 2-0 and every eye in the country will be on the game after what came to light over the last week regarding head coach Mel Tucker.

Connelly’s predictive model has the Huskies winning 32-23. It gives Michigan State just a 29% chance of pulling an upset.

Here’s what Connelly wrote on the game:

New Spartans quarterback Noah Kim has been pressured quite a bit, but currently ranks fifth in the country in yards per dropback (10.4). Veteran receivers Tre Mosley and Christian Fitzpatrick have combined for 13 catches and 226 yards, while freshmen Jaron Glover and Antonio Gates Jr. (yes, Antonio Gates Jr.) have combined for six catches and 180 yards. The Spartans’ run game has been awful, but for as many advantages as UW’s passing game tends to create, MSU might find a few too. And if Penix is struggling with pressure, this one suddenly has upset potential.

Washington (2-0) has looked impressive through the opening two weeks of the season. But the schedule will start to pick up now.

After the Spartans, UW plays a solid Cal team, then goes on the road to face Arizona before a home date with Oregon. Considering the last four weeks of the season, UW needs to continue ripping off wins if it wants to give itself the best shot possible at the CFP.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT on Peacock.