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Michigan (-4.5) at Michigan State: O/U 50.5
Michigan versus Michigan State has delivered some of the most classic games in recent memory.
I will never forget where I was when the muffed punt happened for a MSU walk off win -- a Rivers Casino, go figure right? Yes, I bet MSU to cover the +7, but unfortunately, we did not get that number for this matchup.
Both squads meet ranked inside the top 10 for the first time since 1964! The time will 12 PM ET and the date will be Saturday, October 30th -- don’t miss it.
Kicking off our day with this game couldn’t possibly get any better as Kenneth Walker and the Spartans are labeled as +4.5 road dogs after opening up +3.5.
Per NBC’s Edge Finder, Michigan State has covered eight of the last 10 meeting versus Michigan. Two of the three failed covers came in the last three meetings, with one at Michigan and one at MSU.
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When the game is in East Lansing (Michigan State), the Spartans have covered the spread six times out of the last 10 matchups at home, including 5-1 in the past six and 5-1-1 in the last seven, per NBC’s Edge Finder.
This will be the first home game versus the Wolverines since 2018! The crowd is going to be insane, as an FYI.
Both of these teams have similar numbers on their undefeated seasons. You could say either squad has yet to play anybody. That would be fair.
Michigan beat Washington when the Huskies were at their worst, while Wisconsin is not who we thought they were.
Michigan State beat Miami and Nebraska in addition to Indiana, so not much to brag about either.
The Spartans and Wolverines would much rather ground and pound on each other in this contest with the likes of Walker and Blake Corum. However, the Wolverines have two offensive lineman that are in question for this matchup.
Zak Zinter (lower body) and Trevor Keegan (shoulder) sat out of the second-half versus Northwestern.
Michigan State is tied-8th with 26 sacks (3.87 per game) and the 31st ranked rushing defense at 121.0 yards allowed per game. The Spartan’s pass rush and rush defense would become issues without one or both lineman.
Michigan has an impressive rush defense as well (24th), but I favor MSU’s offensive playmakers over Michigan’s and the pressure the Sparty defense can create.
Michigan’s Cade McNamara has five touchdowns to one interception on the season and has not thrown a touchdown in two straight games. Outside of the Wisconsin matchup (2 TDs), McNamara does not have another touchdown pass in Big Ten play this year.
On the other hand, MSU’s Payton Thorne has 17 total touchdowns and four interceptions through seven games.
Throne has thrown some dangerous passes in Big Ten play, but in a intense matchup versus each other’s biggest rival, both quarterbacks will have to take shots and I know which one I prefer to put my trust in and money on.
The home team is a live dog to win outright. I would play them down to +3.
Go Green! Go White!
Pick: Michigan State +4.5 (1.5u)
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