Nebraska vs Michigan State NCAA Football Odds Preview

Posted by Tony Newborn on Tuesday,September 30, 2014 3:46, EDT in

Nebraska travels to East Lansing to take on Michigan State in a battle between the two best college football teams in the Big Ten this season. Although Ohio State and Michigan State both have one loss, Ohio State lost to Virginia Tech while Michigan State lost to Oregon. That’s why Michigan State is ranked higher than Ohio State. Michigan State is ranked higher than Nebraska because even though Nebraska is undefeated at 5 and 0, the 5 teams that Nebraska has beaten are: Florida Atlantic, McNeese State, Fresno State, Miami and Illinois. Will Michigan State easily cover the week 6 college football betting spread or does Nebraska have what it takes to keep the game close on Saturday?

How To Bet the  Cornhuskers @ Spartans NCAA Football Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Saturday, Oct. 4, 8:00 pm ET
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
TV: ABC
NCAAF Odds: Michigan State -7

Why Bet on the Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State has some great trends as well: 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall, 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 home games, 5 and 1 ATS in their last 6 conference games and 4 and 0 ATS in their last 4 games on grass. If there is a negative trend, it’s the fact that Nebraska is 5 and 1against the spread against them, but that trend really shouldn’t bother any football handicappers looking to back Sparty against the spread in this game.

Michigan State’s offense has been unreal this season. It’s averaging over 500 yards and 50 points per game and the defense, save for the debacle against the Ducks in Oregon in Week 2, has been stellar. Opponents only average 289 yards against the Spartan D. Michigan State gives up 78 yards per game on the ground.

Why Bet on the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska, in contrast, allows 108.9 yards per game on the ground. Nebraska’s offense appears to be as strong as Michigan State’s since the Cornhuskers average 572.6 yards and 45.4 points, but their defense doesn’t appear to be close to the Spartans’. Although stats wise the defense is comparable to Michigan State’s, we have to remember whom the ‘Huskers have played against so far this season.

Nebraska barely beat McNeese State 31 to 24 at home as a -35 point favorite. McNeese State racked up 338 total yards against the Cornhusker D. 178 of those yards came on the ground. Nebraska’s defense appears to be much better than it was then, but allowing McNeese State to be anywhere close to them in the points department shows football handicappers how far the ‘Huskers need to go before being able to threaten a team like Michigan State.

My Expert Analysis and Betting Prediction

It’s always a good idea to start with trends in Big Ten matchups. Nebraska is 5 and 1 in their last 6 games overall. The Cornhuskers are also 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 versus a team with a winning record and 5 and 1 ATS in the last 6meetings between these two teams. A big negative trend is that Nebraska is 3-8-1 in their last 12 road games versus a team with a winning home record.

The Spartans are only giving up a touchdown in this one. Nebraska hasn’t faced a team anywhere close to being as good as the Michigan State Spartans. Sparty is the pick to cover the spread on Saturday. Take Michigan State Spartans at -7.