In a matchup that showcases two schools that are nationally ranked in the Top 25, the No. 24 Spartans of Michigan State (+7) are ready to welcome their conference foe Michigan Wolverines (-7) to Spartan Stadium. FOX will broadcast the action and this key afternoon game is scheduled to get going at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Michigan is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 7 points. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to wager $300 in order to win $100 back on the Wolverines (-300). The Spartans are getting +220 moneyline odds. Should one team can create a bunch of points early it will create a decent in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 45.5 points.
The opening line was 6.5. The game’s total has not changed since being set initially at 45.5.
The Wolverines are 4-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.5 units so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 4-3. The Spartans have lost 1.0 unit this season. The team is 2-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-2.
The Wolverines have gone 6-1 straight up (SU), including 4-0 SU against conference opponents. The Spartans are 4-2 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Wolverines want to keep things rolling after a 38-13 win over Wisconsin last week. Shea Patterson completed 14 passes for only 124 yards. Karan Higdon (105 rushing yards on 19 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Patterson (90 yards on nine carries, one TD) led the running attack in the win. Nico Collins (four receptions, 31 yards) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (three catches, 30 yards) shared the receiving duties.
The Michigan State Spartans just earned a 21-17 win over Penn State. The defense allowed the Nittany Lions to rush for 205 yards on 32 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Miles Sanders was outstandingfor the Nittany Lions, putting up 162 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts. For Michigan State, Brian Lewerke completed 24-of-52 passes for 259 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. La’Darius Jefferson (60 rushing yards on 15 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Lewerke (20 yards on 12 carries) led the ground game in the win while Felton Davis III (eight receptions, 100 yards, two TDs) and Laress Nelson (five catches, 60 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Michigan has run the ball on 61.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Michigan State has a rush percentage of 48.6 percent. The Wolverines have produced 217 rush yards per game (including 239 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 16 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Spartans are putting up 123 rushing yards per game (117 in conference) and have 10 total rush TDs.
If 2018 numbers can translate to this game, then the Wolverines might be the more disruptive team in the trenches, as their offensive line has allowed only 36 sacks while the D-line logged 42 sacks. The Spartans O-line has given up 21 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs just 27 times.
The Wolverines offensive scheme has tallied 207 yards per contest through the air overall (205 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Spartans have recorded 272 pass yards per outing (281.0 in the Big 10) and have eight total pass scores.
Michigan should have an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 109 yards and pass for 129 yards per game. The Michigan State defense has allowed 286.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 62.3 yards per game on the ground. The Wolverines are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.81 to opposing QBs, while the Spartans have given up a 5.30 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Patterson is up to 1,029 yards this year, and has connected on 68 percent of his 132 attempts with seven scores through the air and only two interceptions. Patterson’s got a 7.00 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.80 over the last two outings.
For the home team, Brian Lewerke has managed to complete 104-of-174 passes for 1,258 yards, seven TDs and six INTs. Lewerke’s ANY/A stands at 5.58 for the year and 4.93 over his last two games.
When these two teams met last year, Michigan State emerged victorious by a score of 14-10.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans
SU Winner – Michigan State, ATS Winner – Michigan State, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Over/Under for Michigan’s last game was set at 46.5. The over cashed in the team’s 38-13 victory over Wisconsin.
Michigan has produced 5.2 yards per carry across its last three outings and 5.6 over its last two.
Michigan State has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 3.6 over its past two.
The Michigan State offense has lost three fumbles this season while Michigan has lost one.
In its last three matches, Michigan is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Michigan State’s last match was 54. The under cashed in that 21-17 triumph over Penn State.
In its last three games, Michigan State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Michigan State has won four of its last five games SU, with a -10-point loss to Northwestern on October 6th accounting for the only defeat over that stretch.
The Wolverines offense has produced five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Spartans have accounted for one such play.
Both teams have allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Michigan defense has given up eight pass plays of 30+ yards while Michigan State has given up five such plays.
The Michigan offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Michigan State has created six such runs.
The Wolverines defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Spartans have given up two such runs.
The Michigan defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season. Michigan State has produced just 13 sacks.
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