Michigan St. vs Northwestern College Football Spread/Handicapping
Michigan State is on track to meet Ohio State in the B10 Championship game with two games to go in the season. This should seemingly be the greatest obstacle as Northwestern has the ability to put points on the board, something that has been exceedingly difficult for most MSU opponents.
Michigan State Spartans (9-1) vs Northwestern Wildcats (4-6)
Saturday November 23
Ryan Field – Evanston, IL
12:00PM
Moneyline: Michigan State -290, Northwestern +245
Spread: Michigan State -7
O/U: 41.5
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Stats | *Insider* Gambling Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NCAA FOOTBALL Picks Today!
The Wildcats seemingly never recovered from their loss to Ohio State almost two months ago. That game started a string of 6 straight losses, most of the close variety. They need this one and next week to gain bowl eligibility.
Not likely
Michigan State
The Spartans have won their last 6 games to take command of the B10 Legends division, in fact a win this week would clinch the title no matter what happens the final week of the season. Despite that they want to finish really strong to try and get a BCS berth which is still very possible (I think they can beat OSU).
CLICK TO GRAB OUR Expert CFB Picks for 2013 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting!
Even though MSU has one of the best defenses in the nation the offense has been taking the pressure off the last three weeks scoring 42, 29 and 41 points respectively.
Against a Northwestern team that is hardly a defensive powerhouse they should be able to score in that range again and the fact that they have done it against some of the better B10 programs is encouraging.
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
The defense will be tested by a NW team that is talented but has been struggling big time. Last year the Spartans lost to the Wildcats by a FG.
Northwestern
Northwestern’s season started strong but then fell off the deep end…and there is no bottom in sight. They have lost six in a row now and their offense has been stymied every week since their loss to the Buckeyes which was the last time they scored more than 24 points.
Not having dynamic running back Venric Mark, who has been out since the Wisconsin game, hurts but they were doing just fine without him to start the season. The real challenge has been that multi-purpose weapon Kain Colter just hasn’t been as effective since an electric start when he was averaging a first down nearly every time he touched the ball.
The Wildcats have a thinner roster of talent than their competitors and need them all at their best to compete.
It has just been surprising how far they have fallen because I have always liked their coach and coming into this season I had high hopes for their overall performance.
The Wildcats have been killing bettors too with a 3-7 ATS performance. Normally good for overs they have not been good in that department either going 4-6.
Spread Pick: Michigan State -7
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Michigan State 31 – Northwestern 17
