No team in the nation brings back more starters than No. 11 Michigan State and it’s 19. The Spartans might be ranked a bit too low and are legitimate playoff contenders as they open the season against Mountain West school Utah State as a more than three-TD NCAAF lines favorite.
Overall, Lewerke completed 246-of-417 passes (.590) for 2,793 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 559 yards on 124 carries (4.5 ypg). He had 3,352 yards of total offense, which set a Spartan sophomore single-season record (previous: Connor Cook with 2,831 in 2013), and was No. 2 on MSU’s single-season total offense list. Lewerke also set MSU sophomore records for passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246).
Dantonio also has a stellar and bruising running back in L.J. Scott, who pondered going pro. He led the Spartans in rushing for the third straight season with 898 yards on a career-high 201 carries (76.6 ypg). Scott. also had a career-high 20 catches for 146 yards and one score. He led the team in all-purpose yards (1,044; 87.0 ypg), ranking 11th in the B1G in all-purpose yards per game and 12th in total all-purpose yards. Offensively, the Spartans will be trying to improve on the 24.5 points a game it produced in 2017.
The defense returns all but two starters to a unit that ranked seventh in the nation in total defense and was second in the country in rushing defense.
How to Bet Utah State vs Michigan State NCAAF Week 1 Odds & Game Info
Utah State Head Football Coach Matt Wells Anxious To Get 2018 Season Started#AggiesAllTheWay
Recap: https://t.co/yfEpNbMEB1 pic.twitter.com/mN4x3H0hJS — USU Football (@USUFootball) 22 de agosto de 2018
- When: Aug. 31, 7 PM ET
- Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Stream: BTN2Go
- Radio: Tunein.com
- NCAAF Week 1 Odds: Michigan State -22.5 (Total 49.5)
Southern University vs TCU College Football Week 1 Betting Lines
Why Bet on Utah State?
The Aggies had a solid season last year under Coach Matt Wells, winning six games and reaching the Arizona Bowl, where they lost 26-20 in overtime to New Mexico State. Larry Rose III scored on a 21-yard run in overtime as New Mexico State won in its first bowl game in 57 years. Utah State had the ball first in overtime and Dominik Eberle hit the right upright on a 29-yard field goal attempt. Eberle made 16 for 18 field goals during the regular season but missed three in the Arizona Bowl. Jordan Love started the final six games as a freshman at quarterback and solidified himself as the No. 1 QB. Love passed for 1,631 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 55 percent of his attempts. While Love isn’t a run-first quarterback, he is mobile enough to buy time for his receivers and a strong enough arm to make the big play. Five starting offensive linemen return, including honorable mention all-league honorees Roman Andrus and Quin Ficklin. The two top rushers fighting for the starting tailback spot are converted WR Gerold Bright and junior college All-American Darwin Thompson. Bright showed his big-play ability with a 75-yard touchdown run against Air Force last year, while Thompson had 1,391 yards and eight touchdowns at Oklahoma A&M. Love has a trio of good pass-catchers in Ron’Quavion Tarver, Jordan Nathan, Dax Raymond. That trio combined for nearly 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. Tarver is the big, physical receiver on the outside while Nathan is the speedy, all-purpose, slot-like athlete. Raymond, a tight end, is a guy to monitor because of his size (6-foot-5) but also his speed and athleticism. Last year, USU also opened vs. a ranked Big Ten team, losing 59-10 at No. 9 Wisconsin.Why Bet on Michigan State?
The Spartans open at No. 11 in the AP poll. The finished last season with a 10-3 record and finished No. 15 in the AP Poll, the seventh AP Top 25 finish under Mark Dantonio (No. 24 in 2008, No. 14 in 2010, No. 11 in 2011, No. 3 in 2013, No. 5 in 2014, No. 6 in 2015). Since 1950, Michigan State has appeared in the Preseason AP Poll on 31 occasions, including six times under Dantonio (No. 17 in 2011, No. 13 in 2012, No. 8 in 2014, No. 5 in 2015, No. 12 in 2016, No. 11 in 2018). Michigan State returns 19 position starters, tied for most in the nation, and 48 letter winners in 2018. Sparty has one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Big Ten and maybe nation in underrated Brian Lewerke. Last year, he started all 13 games while leading MSU to those 10 wins and a victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, in which Lewerke was named Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP.
Overall, Lewerke completed 246-of-417 passes (.590) for 2,793 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 559 yards on 124 carries (4.5 ypg). He had 3,352 yards of total offense, which set a Spartan sophomore single-season record (previous: Connor Cook with 2,831 in 2013), and was No. 2 on MSU’s single-season total offense list. Lewerke also set MSU sophomore records for passing yards (2,793), passing attempts (417) and passing completions (246).
Dantonio also has a stellar and bruising running back in L.J. Scott, who pondered going pro. He led the Spartans in rushing for the third straight season with 898 yards on a career-high 201 carries (76.6 ypg). Scott. also had a career-high 20 catches for 146 yards and one score. He led the team in all-purpose yards (1,044; 87.0 ypg), ranking 11th in the B1G in all-purpose yards per game and 12th in total all-purpose yards. Offensively, the Spartans will be trying to improve on the 24.5 points a game it produced in 2017.
The defense returns all but two starters to a unit that ranked seventh in the nation in total defense and was second in the country in rushing defense.
West Virginia vs Tennessee NCAA Football Week 1 Odds & Pick
Latest NCAAF Betting Trends
- Utah State is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
- Utah State is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Utah State’s last 11 games on the road
- Michigan State is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games at home
- Michigan State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Michigan State’s last 6 games
- Aggies are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in August
- Aggies are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games
- Spartans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games
