BYU vs. Michigan State Pick
Following back-to-back losses, can the Michigan State football team get back on track when it hosts BYU on Saturday at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Michigan State is favored at home, as the Spartans are getting odds of -6 points against the Cougars. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 49.5 points. These two have no recent meetings to consider.
Michigan State is now 2-2 on the season following a 24-21 OT loss to Indiana on the road last week. The Spartans are 0-2 in the Big Ten, but stepping away from conference play this week. The offensive numbers seem okay, as they are putting up 406.3 yards per game, but they are only averaging 22.8 points per contest right now. In last week’s loss, MSU missed a pair of field goals as Michael Geiger is just 2-for-5 on attempts this season. Tyler O’Connor has thrown for 918 yards and eight touchdowns this season, but also has five interceptions. On defense, MSU is giving up just 23.8 points and 345.3 yards per game, but the unit will be without stud D-lineman Malik McDowell, who was called for targeting late in last week’s game.
BYU is coming off a 55-53 win in a shootout with Toledo last week. The Cougars are now 2-3 on the season and 4-1 against the spread. BYU is averaging 27.6 points and 425.2 yards per game on offense while the defense is giving up 28.2 points and 444.2 yards per game. Defensively, BYU has faced a lot of solid offensive teams, which has led to the struggles. They are giving up 310.2 passing yards per game, but that shouldn’t be a problem against MSU. Offensively, BYU is putting up 200 yards per game on the ground as Jamaal Williams has rushed for 703 yards and eight touchdowns this season while QB Taysom Hill has run for 228 yards while throwing for 1,117 yards and five touchdowns. Williams is currently second in the nation in most rushing yards.
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As I said before, BYU has faced some really tough competition this year. The win over Toledo is a pretty big victory, as the Rockets look like a great mid-major team. BYU has the ability to move the ball on the ground, which it should definitely be able to do early on MSU with McDowell suspended in the first half. The BYU defense should also be excited at facing such a pedestrian offense after facing some great offensive teams this season. MSU really has some issues this season. Indiana isn’t awful, but they aren’t great and I think BYU is a better team than the Hoosiers. The Spartans will have their hands full again on Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 6 PICK: BYU +6