Michigan State (3-1, 1-0) at Michigan (4-0, 1-0)
When: Saturday, October 7th 2017
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Michigan -13/46
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet NCAA Football odds and props!
For the first time in their 110 meetings, the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans will start under the lights when ABC hosts their Game of the Week on Saturday. Seventh-ranked Michigan looks to keep its perfect record intact when it hosts one-loss Michigan State in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines have won their first four games of the season, including a 28-10 victory against Purdue last week, but will be without starting quarterback Wilton Speight, who suffered a neck injury against the Boilermakers, and John O’Korn looks to step in and lead Michigan to back-to-back wins against the Spartans for the first time since 2006-07. Michigan State bounced back from a disappointing 38-18 home loss to No. 22 Notre Dame by shutting down Iowa 17-10 last Saturday. The Spartans, who held the Hawkeyes to just 231 total yards, are hoping to take advantage of a struggling Wolverines offensive line, as they vie for their fifth win in their last six visits to Ann Arbor. Michigan State has won seven of the last nine meetings overall.
Wide receiver Felton Davis was named the Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week after catching a career-high nine passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Iowa. Quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns to go along with another 42 on the ground to up his season total to 248 rushing yards, which is second best among Big Ten quarterbacks. The Spartan’s defense, which ranks fourth in the country in yards allowed, will be on the road for the first time this season. Senior running back Gerald Holmes, who has rushed for 1,120 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, and safety Matt Morrissey were named the team captains for Saturday’s game.
[ad id=’37018′]
O’Korn came off the bench to replace Speight last week against Purdue and was extremely effective as he completed 18-of-26 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown in the win. Defensive end Chase Winovich, who recorded eight tackles last week including 3.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, is ranked second nationally with five total sacks. The Wolverines lead the nation in total defense (203.3 yards) and sacks (4.5) per game. Defensive back Nate Johnson was dismissed from the team on Wednesday after he was charged with domestic violence. Michigan will be at Indiana next week before a huge matchup at Penn State in two weeks.
WEEK 6 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS
Yes, the Michigan State defense has been very good so far, but Notre Dame exposed them and I believe Michigan will as well. The Wolverines defense will prevent the Spartans from generating anything on offense. I’m predicted a big time blowout here in the Paul Bunyan Trophy game.
Pick: Michigan -10.5
TRENDS:
- Spartans are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Spartans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Spartans are 34-16-2 ATS in their last 52 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Spartans are 17-8-2 ATS in their last 27 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Spartans are 17-37 ATS in their last 54 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Spartans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in October.
- Spartans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a bye week.
- Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Spartans are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Wolverines are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games following a ATS win.
- Wolverines are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Wolverines are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in October.
- Wolverines are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a bye week.
- Over is 7-1 in Spartans last 8 games following a bye week.
- Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 12-4 in Spartans last 16 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 games overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 7-3 in Spartans last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Wolverines last 6 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Wolverines last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 12-4-1 in Wolverines last 17 games following a bye week.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Wolverines last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Wolverines last 21 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Wolverines last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Wolverines last 5 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 12-4-1 in Wolverines last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Wolverines last 26 games overall.
- Over is 10-4 in Wolverines last 14 games in October.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Wolverines last 15 home games.
- Over is 12-5 in Wolverines last 17 conference games.
- Over is 7-3 in Wolverines last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 9-4-1 in Wolverines last 14 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 11-5 in Wolverines last 16 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Spartans are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
- Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings in Michigan.
