CFB Handicapping: Michigan State Spartans vs Northwestern Wildcats
It has been a pretty good season for Michigan State. Nobody will forget the finish to their battle against Wisconsin and they could wind up playing the Badgers again in the first ever Big Ten Championship game.
Ryan Field – Evanston, Illinois
Saturday November 25 – 12:00PM
Moneyline: Michigan State -245, Northwestern +205
Spread (ATS): Michigan State -6
Over/Under: 51.5
Odds courtesy of 5Dimes
Michigan State
Right now MSU is more likely to get there as all they have to do is win at Northwestern to punch their ticket. A feat that shouldn’t prove to be too difficult for the Spartans.
The Spartans may be flying below the radar this year but this is a good team with a fantastic defense. They rank in the top 10 in all major categories and most importantly are giving up only 15 points per game. On offense they have good leadership with senior QB Kirk Cousins and pretty good balance. Some thought they would be more explosive this year but as this team has developed under coach Mark Dantonio they haven’t really produced an electrifying offensive player.
Michigan State has had success lately against Northwestern but it hasn’t always been easy. They may have won three straight against the Wildcats but last year they found themselves down 17-0 early and it wasn’t until late in the 4th quarter that they took the lead. Northwestern has had a disappointing season this year but this team is no pushover and they are on a roll right now.
Northwestern
Early in the season I liked Northwestern as my sleeper team in the Big Ten. They started 2-0 but with QB Dan Persa hurt and then in an out of the lineup they struggled to find an offensive identity and proceeded to lose 5 games in a row. It is a testament to the players and their coach that they switched gears and have won the last 4. It hasn’t been a murderers row schedule but they won at Nebraska as 17.5 point underdogs. That is pretty impressive in my books. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
I know he has started some games but it is not ideal if your leading rusher is your backup quarterback. Still the Wildcats have a prolific offense ranking 31st in the nation in yards per game. It is no surprise that since Dan Persa took back the reins the passing game has exploded. Along with it Jeremy Ebert has established himself as one of the top receivers in the conference and a prospect to play on Sundays.
Last year the Wildcats had the Spartans on the hook and let them get away. This year they are looking to continue their record of 7 straight wins in home finales – the last two of which were against ranked teams. This team is no pushover and will be highly motivated to improve its bowl chances with a win over a top 10 team. Yes the Spartans are currently the league’s highest ranked squad at #10.
ATS Pick: Michigan State -6
Over/Under Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Michigan State 38 – Northwestern 31
