The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Michigan State Spartans will go at it on the grass at Spartan Stadium. This afternoon game is scheduled to commence at 4:00 p.m. ET and spectators can watch the action on FOX.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview
Rutgers is a big road underdog here and is currently getting 27 points from oddsmakers. If the Spartans stumble in the early stages it’ll create a solid live betting scenario. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 37.5 points.
The betting odds have swayed slightly from where they initially opened. The line opened at -28 and the game’s O/U was originally placed at 38.
The Scarlet Knights are 6-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 4.2 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 4-7. The Spartans have lost 1.9 units this season. The team is 4-7 ATS and also has an O/U record of 4-7.
The Scarlet Knights are 1-10 straight up (SU), including 0-8 SU against conference opponents. The Spartans are 6-5 SU overall and 4-4 SU in conference play.
The Scarlet Knights fell to Penn State 20-7 in a game where their defense allowed the Nittany Lions to run for 139 yards on 39 rush attempts. Offensively, the Scarlet Knights completed 5-of-16 passes for 46 yards and two interceptions. Giovanni Rescigno went two-for-8 for 28 yards while Artur Sitkowski completed three-of-seven for 18 yards and two interceptions. Raheem Blackshear (102 rushing yards on 22 attempts, one TD) and Isaih Pacheco (53 yards on 18 carries) led the running attack while Bo Melton (three receptions, 29 yards) and Blackshear (one catch, six yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Michigan State narrowly fell 9-6 to Nebraska. Rocky Lombardi completed 15-of-41 passes for 146 yards and one interception. Connor Heyward (80 rushing yards on 21 attempts) and the signal-caller Lombardi (53 yards on nine carries) handled the running attack while Heyward (five receptions, 78 yards) and Darrell Stewart Jr. (four catches, 23 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Rutgers has run the ball on 53.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Michigan State has an overall rush percentage of 48.0 percent. The Scarlet Knights have produced 136 rush yards per game (including 127 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 12 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Spartans are putting up 121 rush yards per game (117 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Scarlet Knights offensive scheme has tallied 134 yards/contest in the air overall (123 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Spartans have produced 225 pass yards per contest (211.6 against Big 10 foes) and have 11 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Rutgers appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed 222 rush yards and 188 pass yards per game. The Michigan State defense has allowed 241.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 78.9 yards per game on the ground. The Spartans are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.86 to opposing QBs, while the Scarlet Knights have given up a 6.33 ANY/A.
Offensively, Sitkowski has put up 1,118 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 50 percent of his 254 attempts with four passing scores and 17 interceptions. He has a 1.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is -3.66 over the past two outings.
The Scarlet Knights have tried to control the pace by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. Backfield mates Isaih Pacheco (371 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Raheem Blackshear (539 rush yards, three rush TDs, two receiving TDs) have brought significant production to the Rutgers offensive scheme.
Rocky Lombardi has completed 42-of-91 passes for 473 yards, two TDs and two INTs for Michigan State. His ANY/A sits at 4.11 for the season and 3.00 over his past two games.
The Spartans will also try to dictate the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Connor Heyward (213 receiving yards), Cody White (332 receiving yards and two receiving TDs) and Rocky Lombardi (63 rush yards) have gotten a lot of touches lately.
When these two schools faced one another last year, Michigan State won handily 40-7.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State Spartans
SU Winner – Michigan State, ATS Winner – Rutgers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Rutgers’ previous game was set at 53. The under cashed in the team’s 20-7 loss to Penn State.
Rutgers has rushed for 4.0 yards per attempt over its past three games and 4.3 over its last two.
Michigan State has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 3.5 over its last two.
Michigan State has lost eight fumbles this season while Rutgers has lost six.
Over its last three matches, Rutgers is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Michigan State’s last match was set at 48. The under cashed in the 9-6 defeat to Nebraska.
Over its last three games, Michigan State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Each team has produced two pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Scarlet Knights have have made four pass plays of 30+ yards while the Spartans have created 10 such plays.
The Rutgers defense has allowed five pass plays of 40+ yards, while Michigan State has given up three such plays.
The Rutgers offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Michigan State has created 10 such runs.
The Scarlet Knights defense has allowed 27 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Spartans have given up four such runs.
The Michigan State defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times this season. Rutgers has recorded just 14 sacks.
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