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Michigan St. Spartans 2013 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2013-14 Football Previews – (Big 10) – Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans were so close to having a big season in 2012, but their inability to come up with big plays in crunch time cost them in many games. Five of their six losses came by a grand total of 13 points.

This could have easily been a ten win team a year ago. Mark Dantonio’s team did finish the season off with a win over TCU in the Sun Bowl. Can that serve as a spark for this year’s team?

Big 10 Conference 2012-2013 College Football Previews: Michigan State Spartans (Team Link)
Head Coach: Mark Dantonio
2012 Record: 7-6
Michigan State Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: +12,500
Michigan State Gambling Odds to win Big 10 Legends Division: +350
Michigan State Gambling Odds to win Big 10 Conference: +750
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The Spartans had one of the top five defenses in the country last year. They graduated some key players, but they’ll still have a good defense. Michigan State’s offense will have to come through in a big way this year, but they’ll have to find a way to do it without Le’Veon Bell in the backfield.

Team Strengths:

The Spartans will have the best group of linebackers in the Big Ten Conference. Max Bullough is the team’s star, and I expect him to make a serious run at the Butkus award this season. Denicos Allen and Taiwan Jones will join him to form a scary group of linebackers. All of these guys have lots of speed, and they will be making big plays all year.

The secondary is going to be another major area of strength on the defense. Michigan State’s Isaiah Lewis is a star at the strong safety position. Junior Kurtis Drummond is a budding star at the free safety spot. These are very physical guys who will make the opposition think twice before running routes over the middle of the field.

The offensive line has been a question mark in the past, but four of five starters are back from last year and this group should be very good in 2013. Fou Fonoti has the biggest upside on this offensive front, and I expect him to have a big season at the tackle spot. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Team Weaknesses:

Who is going to be the quarterback? Andrew Maxwell had a really bad year last year for the Spartans, and you have to wonder if Connor Cook or even freshman Damion Terry won’t end up being the starter this year. Terry has the highest upside of the bunch, but he’ll have to go through some growing pains.

Where are the play makers on the offensive side of the football? Without Bell, the backfield is as thin as it has been in several years here. This group of wide receivers was arguably the worst in the Big Ten last year, and there are no new big names coming in to save the day. The lack of talent at the skill positions is definitely concerning.

2013-2014 Michigan State Football Prediction: 9-4

Michigan State has one of the easiest schedules in the Big Ten this year. How could you draw it up any better for this team? The Spartans will avoid both Ohio State and Wisconsin and they will host the Michigan Wolverines. Back-to-back games on November 16 and November 23 at Nebraska and Northwestern will be huge for this team’s chances in the Legends Division. In the end, their lack of play makers on offense will probably hold them back a little too much for them to finish on top in the Legends Division.

2013 Michigan State Schedule

8/30/13 8:00 PM ET WMICH
9/7/13 12:00 PM ET SOFLA
9/14/13 TBD YOUST
9/21/13 3:30 PM ET @NOTRE
10/5/13 12:00 PM ET @IOWA
10/12/13 TBD IND
10/19/13 TBD PURD
10/26/13 3:30 PM ET @ILL
11/2/13 TBD MICH
11/16/13 TBD @NEB
11/23/13 TBD @NWEST
11/30/13 TBD MINN

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By Kyle Hunter

Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.