Michigan State vs. Ohio State Pick
Is No. 11 Ohio State giving up too many points to No. 13 Michigan State when the two Big Ten foes meet up today at Noon ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Ohio State is favored at home, as the Buckeyes are getting odds of -17 points against Michigan State. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 53.5 points. The road team has won six of the last seven meetings in this series and the Spartans have covered in three of the last four against the Buckeyes. The public is currently putting 82 percent of the wagers on Michigan State on the road. Today’s game takes place from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The contest will air live on FOX.
Ohio State is coming off getting thrashed by Iowa last week, 55-24 on the road. The Buckeyes fell to 7-2 on the season with the loss and they are also 5-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State is just 4-5 against the spread on the season and 1-4 ATS at home. While the OSU defense is giving up just 22.3 points and 323 yards per game on the season, the Buckeyes allowed Iowa to rack up 487 total yards in last week’s debacle. That was quite the surprising effort. Offensively, Ohio State is putting up 43.8 points and 549 yards per contest. J.T. Barrett has thrown for 2,374 yards and 28 touchdowns this year while also rushing for 517 yards and five scores. His top receiver, Parris Campbell, sat out last week’s game due to a concussion, but he is probable to play today. Freshman J.K. Dobbins is the leading rusher with 914 yards and five touchdowns.
Michigan State is coming off a big upset win at home, beating Penn State 27-24 at home last week. The Spartans are now 7-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Big Ten. MSU is 6-3 against the spread on the season and just 1-2 ATS on the road. Michigan State has been led by its defense, which is allowing just 20.1 points and 303.7 yards per game. The Spartans are holding opponents to only 87 rushing yards per contest. Offensively, MSU is putting up 24.1 points and 402.6 yards per contest. Brian Lewerke has thrown for 2,207 yards and 16 touchdowns this year with just five interceptions. He also has 368 yards and three scores. LJ Scott is the leading rusher with 554 yards and five touchdowns. Felton Davis III is the top receiver with 45 catches for 586 yards and eight touchdowns.
Bet on Michigan State vs. Ohio State
I am all about Michigan State in this one. While Ohio State is coming off an embarrassing loss and some would expect a big bounce-back performance, Michigan State doesn’t seem to be the team to take that. The Spartans have been a real problem for the Buckeyes in recent years. MSU has not only covered in its last two trips to Columbus, it has won outright. Outside of a big loss to Notre Dame, nobody has pushed around Michigan State. The Spartans are improving on offense while its defense is physical enough to compete with Ohio State. The Buckeyes also haven’t been great at covering at home. Give me all these points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE +17