The Big Ten has put three teams in the Top 10 in the College Football Rankings. If any of the three win out from here, the conference is sure to be represented in the playoff for the second consecutive season. The Ohio State Buckeyes really hit their stride last year when they beat the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing. Sparty will hope to return the favor this Saturday at the Shoe.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Michigan State Spartans +13
Ohio State Buckeyes -13
Over/Under 51
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Buckeyes are usually double-digit favorites, but being favored by 13 over a Top 10 team which has largely been considered one of the best teams in America all season long feels like a bit much, especially with the game against Michigan coming up next week. That said, OSU is certainly the better of these two teams on paper, and it has home field advantage, something that live bettors can't forget.
The total of 51 has come up to 53 in a span of just 48 hours, a move which was predictable considering the fact that these two teams combined for 86 points last year.
WHEN THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES HAVE THE BALL
J.T. Barrett is clearly the right choice at quarterback for the Buckeyes, and he's got a lot of potential. Last season, he had his coming out party against this team, throwing for 300 yards and rushing for 86 more, accounting for a stunning five touchdowns. Barrett is a touchdown-producing machine, and when he and Ezekiel Elliott are both running together at their peak, this offense is virtually impossible to stop.
The key for the Spartans and in live betting is going to be getting a pass rush after Barrett and forcing him to do damage with his legs instead of his arm. That isn't necessarily a winning ticket in the long run either, knowing that mobile quarterbacks have had some success against MSU this season. Still, that's the best chance the team has, and Mark Dantonio knows it.
WHEN THE MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS HAVE THE BALL
Michigan State had a scary moment last week against Maryland when Connor Cook went down with a shoulder injury, but all appears to be well for this game. It's a good thing, too. Games like this are the ones which Cook will be measured when it comes time to head to the NFL.
The potential No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft this upcoming season played really well against the Buckeyes last year. It wasn't his fault that the defense couldn't slow down OSU, and live bettors should expect much of the same this year, too. Cook threw for 358 yards then, and his 21/4 TD/INT ratio this season gives us supreme confidence that he isn't coughing the ball up.
We're still not sure about the Michigan State ground game, though. The Buckeyes have one of the best rush defenses in the nation, and though L.J. Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes all have their finer points, none of the three are explosive like Elliott, nor can any of the three single-handedly take over a college football game.
You hate to say at this level that it's all about the quarterback, but Cook should be living for moments like this, and live bettors will have to gauge whether his play is adequate enough to be bet upon.
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