The Michigan State Spartans (-2) and Nebraska Cornhuskers will do battle on the turf at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET and FOX will broadcast the action.
Michigan State Spartans at Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Michigan State is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2 points. The Spartans are also receiving -130 moneyline odds while the Cornhuskers are +110. It appears that there might be some good in-game betting possibilities in this matchup, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points.
The Spartans are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 0.9 units so far. They’ve been a decent under bet and have posted an O/U record of 4-6. The Cornhuskers have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 8.8 units. The team is 5-4 ATS and six of its games have gone over the total.
The Spartans have gone 6-4 straight up (SU), including 4-3 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Cornhuskers are 3-7 SU overall and 2-5 SU in conference play.
The Spartans came up short to Ohio State 26-6 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Buckeyes to eat up the clock by rushing for 120 yards on 45 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Mike Weber had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 104 rushing yards and a score on 22 attempts. On the offensive side of the ball, the Spartans completed 18-of-48 passes for 220 yards and one interception. Brian Lewerke went 11-for-28 for 128 yards and one interception while Rocky Lombardi completed seven-of-19 for 92 yards. Cody White (eight receptions, 115 yards) and Darrell Stewart Jr. (four catches, 42 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Nebraska enters this one having just earned a lopsided 54-35 win over Illinois. The team’s defense allowed the Fighting Illini to rush for 383 yards on 49 attempts, including five rush TDs. AJ Bush was a force to be reckoned with, putting up 187 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 attempts for Illinois. For Nebraska, Adrian Martinez completed 24-of-34 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Martinez (55 yards on 13 rush attempts, one TD) and Devine Ozigbo (162 yards on 11 carries, three TDs) handled the ground game in the win while Stanley Morgan Jr. (eight receptions, 131 yards, two TDs) and JD Spielman (seven catches, 71 yards) led the Nebraska pass-catchers.
Michigan State has run the ball on 48.0 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 45.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Nebraska has a rush percentage of 54.9 percent, and has kept it on the ground 52.4 percent of the time when playing Big 10 opponents. The Spartans have rushed for 118 yards per game (including 114 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 13 scores via handoffs this year. The Cornhuskers are totaling 227 rushing yards per game (218 in conference) and have 24 total rush TDs.
The Spartans offensive scheme has averaged 233 yards through the air overall (221 per game against conference opposition) and has 11 passing scores so far. The Cornhuskers have recorded 256 pass yards per outing (272.3 against Big 10 competition) and have 17 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Michigan State has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 77 yards and pass for 251 yards per game. The Nebraska defense has allowed 255.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 194.0 yards per game on the ground. The Spartans are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.97 to opposing QBs, while the Cornhuskers have given up a 5.79 ANY/A.
Offensively, Lewerke has put up 1,781 passing yards this year, and has connected on 151-of-278 attempts with eight passing scores and eight interceptions. He’s got a 4.98 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 2.60 over the past two outings.
On the other sideline, Adrian Martinez has completed 160-of-239 passes for 1,946 yards, 14 TDs and seven INTs. Martinez’s ANY/A stands at 6.97 for the year and 7.94 over his last two outings.
These two Big 10 foes did not get a chance to play one another last season.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Michigan State Spartans at Nebraska Cornhuskers
SU Winner – Nebraska, ATS Winner – Nebraska, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Nebraska offense has lost nine fumbles this season while Michigan State has let seven get away.
Each team defense has recorded 24 sacks this season.
Michigan State has averaged 4.1 yards per rush attempt over its last three contests and 5.0 over its last two.
Nebraska has averaged 6.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.0 over its past two.
Nebraska has won four of its last five games SU, with a -5-point defeat to Ohio State on November 3rd accounting for its only loss over that stretch.
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