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Michigan St. Spartans vs. Michigan Wolverines Gambling Prediction & Week 8 Preview

Spartans vs Wolverines NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping

The Michigan State Spartans have owned the series against the Michigan Wolverines the past few seasons, but these two teams have a rich history considering they’ve played each other more than 100 times in the past 114 years.

Michigan State Spartans (4-3) vs Michigan Wolverines (4-3)
Saturday October 20, 2012
Michigan Stadium, ANN ARBOR, MI
3:30 PM ET
Moneyline: Michigan -360, Michigan State +280 from Bovada
Spread: Michigan -10
O/U: 44.5

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The Spartans have never beaten the Wolverines five straight times, and they’ll look to hit that mark this weekend when they visit the Big House.

Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans are coming off a disappointing double-overtime loss against the Iowa Hawkeyes, and it’s time for them to bounce back with a big performance against Michigan this week.

The key to Saturday’s matchup—as it always is when you’re playing Michigan—is containing Denard Robinson. The Wolverines quarterback has been inconsistent at best all season, and Michigan State’s defense will make it a priority to shut him down from start to finish. The Spartans allow just 91.3 rushing yards per game (8th in the nation) and 178.9 yards through the air (17th in the nation).

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The team gives up just 15.7 points per game (14th in the nation), which is going to a mark they try and hit against Michigan, which averages almost 34 points per contest.

This week’s matchup is an important one for the Spartans in the sense that it kicks off their toughest stretch of the season. With Wisconsin and Nebraska waiting around the bend, a win against Michigan would give the Spartans the confidence they need heading into the tail end of the year.

Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines’ biggest advantage this weekend will be playing at home in one of the largest, loudest venues in all of college football. Michigan Stadium—better known as The Big House—is a raucous environment, and the crowd should come out in full force against their in-state rival. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

As with most of the Wolverines’ games this season, the wild card will be how well Denard Robinson plays. The senior quarterback is at his most dangerous level when he’s making plays with his feet, but it’s going to be tough for the dual-threat quarterback to make plays on any level against a tough Spartans defense. If he can make plays through the air, it’s going to open up the running game, which is when he and the Michigan offense can really let loose.

Michigan State has won the last four meetings between these two teams, which means Robinson will be looking for his first victory over the Spartans in his senior year. The Spartans have shut him down the last two times they’ve played, so he’ll be looking for a big game on Saturday.

Both of these teams have respectable defenses, but it’s the Wolverines who can really threaten to pull away if their offense is clicking. Don’t expect this game to be easy, but the offensive prowess of Michigan should affect the score board at some point, and with the crowd behind them, they’re the favorites for a reason.

Trends

  • Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Spartans are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
  • Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings,
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Spartans last 4 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
  • Under is 3-0-1 in Spartans last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
  • Under is 5-1-1 in Spartans last 7 games overall.

O/U Pick: Under 44.5
Score Prediction: Michigan 24 – Michigan St. 17

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Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"