Michigan St. vs. Northwestern Total Pick
Will No. 16 Michigan State have another low-scoring game when it hits the road to face Northwestern on Saturday at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Michigan State is favored on the road, as the Spartans are getting odds of -2.5 points against Northwestern. The over/under total has been set at 40.5 points. The home team has won five straight meetings in this series and the two have hit the under in three of their last four meetings. The public is currently putting 79 percent of the wagers on Michigan State on the road. Saturday’s game takes place from Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois and the contest will air on ESPN.
Northwestern is coming off a 17-10 OT win at home over Iowa to improve to 4-3 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are 3-3-1 with the over/under total this season. Northwestern is allowing just 23.3 points and 367.1 yards per game while the offense is putting up 26 points and 393.7 yards per contest. Clayton Thorson has thrown for 1,688 yards and eight touchdowns, but also has nine interceptions. Justin Jackson has rushed for 603 yards and six touchdowns.
Michigan State is coming off a 17-9 win at home over Indiana last week to improve to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the Big Ten. The Spartans have hit the under in five of their seven games. MSU is holding opponents to just 16.9 points and 262.1 yards per game this year, while the offense is averaging 22.7 points and 372.7 yards per game. Brian Lewerke has thrown for 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 313 yards and three scores. L.J. Scott is the leading rusher with 495 yards and four scores while Felton Davis III has 25 catches for 310 yards and five touchdowns.
Bet on Michigan State vs. Northwestern
The total is low, but Northwestern is 3-0-1 with the under this season at home The Wildcats play very gritty at home and Michigan State is not a team that can’t put up enough points consistently. The Michigan State defense shouldn’t have trouble limiting what this Northwestern offense does either. Northwestern is 36-14-1 with the under in its last 51 home games and 5-2 with the under in its last 7 after a win.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE/NORTHWESTERN UNDER 40.5