The Michigan State Spartans entered the 2016 season as the 12th-best team in the nation in the preseason polls, but things sure can change in a month. Last Saturday’s stunning loss to Indiana — its second loss of the season — sent the Spartans tumbling out of the national rankings and called their Big Ten title hopes into serious question.
How will the Spartans respond in Week 6? That’s the big question as the team hosts the BYU Cougars at home in this non-conference contest.
Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Spartan Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
BYU +5.5
Michigan State -5.5
Over/Under 49.5
Odds Analysis
This is a short break from conference play for Michigan State, but it still wants to get back on the winning track. The Spartans aren’t huge home favorites but the bettors like them to cover the spread in this one, as nearly 75 percent of the action is coming in on Michigan State.
The over/under looks pretty fair and the “under” is the more common choice as 61 percent of the bets are coming in on the final score finishing below the scoring total.
Injury Report
Michigan State will be dealing with several injuries heading into this one. Linebackers Riley Bullough and Jon Reschke both missed last week’s game due to injury, while cornerback Darian Hicks didn’t return after injuring his hip early in the second half.
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell wasn’t injured in the game but he was ejected for targeting and will have to sit out the first half against BYU.
Key State
3. That’s the maximum point margin in every game the Cougars have played this season. BYU beat Arizona in its opener by two points, then lost at Utah by one point.
The Cougars followed that up with consecutive losses to UCLA and West Virginia, with both coming by only a field goal. The trend continued in Week 5 with a two-point win over Toledo in a wild 55-53 affair.
It’s rare for teams to play so many close games, but it could benefit BYU as it gets a lot of experience in such situations. The Cougars will be ready if this one remains tight, although Michigan State would prefer to run away and hide with the win.
The Spartans’ only close outcome came last week in the 24-21 overtime loss to Indiana.
Free ATS Pick
Michigan State started the season with 28-13 win over Furman and improved to 2-0 after a 36-28 victory over No. 18 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, now 2-3, didn’t turn out to be quite what the nation thought they could be and Spartan fans must ask themselves the same question.
The back-to-back losses No. 11 Wisconsin and Indiana mark Michigan State’s first 0-2 start in Big Ten play in eight years. It’s essential to get a win this week against BYU. The defense figures to lead the way, as it is only giving up 345.3 total yards per contest and should be able to slow down BYU for the most part.
BYU has rushed for more than 200 yards per game this season and will aim to get the ground game going in this one. That could be tough against a physical Spartans defense. The Cougars need a good game from quarterback Taysom Hill if they have any chance to pull off the upset.
While the Spartans have already seen some of their grand hopes disappear, the home field and talent advantage should be enough in this one. BYU should keep it close as it is wont to do, but eventually Michigan State’s firepower will prove too much to overcome.
College Football Odds: Michigan State 34, BYU 21
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