College Football Betting – Michigan State vs. Northwestern
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
October 17, 2009—12:00 p.m., EST Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI.
The Michigan State Spartans have not had the start to the season that their fans envisioned after a breakthrough 2008 campaign, but the win over Michigan in East Lansing seems to have changed perceptions and feelings for the MSU faithful.
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Now, as MSU builds confidence and continues into their Big Ten schedule, the Spartans have a shot to make a run at a New Year’s Day bowl because things have gotten considerably easier.
This week, MSU welcomes Northwestern to Spartan Stadium in East Lansing in a game that has MSU listed as a -14 ½ point favorite, one of the biggest college football spreads in the Big Ten this week. 
With an over/under of 53 points, this figures to be one of the highest scoring games of the week in the Big Ten Conference as well.
Northwestern can put up points as can Michigan State as both feature high-powered offenses. This series has a history high scoring as the two combined for 89 points in 2007 and 79 points in 2006.
Northwestern usually isn’t intimidated by playing on the road at Spartan Stadium either as they shocked MSU in 2007 with a 48-41 win in overtime.
The spread for this college football game seems a bit too high in favor of MSU as the line seems to be moving in the Wildcats’ direction.
That could be because the Wildcats’ best opportunity to cover the spread will be to throw all day since their running attack is below-average but they manage to throw for 260 yards a game.
Abandoning the run against MSU might not be a bad idea in this game because MSU’s pass defense is woeful anyway. Northwestern should be able to move the ball all day.
MSU can move it on Northwestern as well, especially through the air, but QB’s Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins have both been banged up lately.
MSU has a history of poor results, both against spread and straight up following Michigan games, specifically wins, and this could be another case of a letdown in East Lansing this weekend.
In the end, expect Northwestern to at least keep it close by throwing all over MSU with the short passing game and QB Mike Kafka’s running.
The Wildcats might fall short and not win but they should cover the college football spread in this game and the total should go over due to the poor defensive play.
The pick: Northwestern (-14 ½) and the over (53).
