A classic Big Ten rivalry takes place Saturday as the struggling Michigan State Spartans travel to Ann Arbor to take on the #15 Michigan Wolverines for the 112th time. Michigan State are playing to try to make a bowl game while the Wolverines are just trying to peak as they get ready for their big rivalry game three two weeks from now.
Michigan State enter play at 4-5 overall, 2-4 in the Big Ten, and still have some work to do to make a bowl game this season. If the Spartans lose Saturday they will have to beat Rutgers and Maryland to become bowl eligible for the third straight season. The Michigan Wolverines enter Saturday at 7-2 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten, and still have a very outside chance of winning the Big Ten – East, though that is very unlikely. The Wolverines will be going bowling for the fifth straight season.
Below is my pick for the Michigan State Spartans at the #15 Michigan Wolverines. All lines are from the FanDuel Sportsbook.
Michigan State Spartans at #15 Michigan Wolverines (13.5): O/U 44 points (-110/-110)
The Michigan State Spartans nightmare 2019 season continued last week in a terrible 37-34 home loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Spartans led 31-10 very early in the fourth quarter, but Illinois came all the way back and ended up getting the comeback win with a touchdown with just five seconds remaining. It was another disappointing game in a season filled with disappointing moments. The Spartans have played three ranked teams this season and have fallen by a combined 100-17 against then #4 Ohio State, then #8 Wisconsin and then #6 Penn State. Michigan State is 2-7 against the spread and the under has hit in five of their nine games this season.
Michigan went into their bye week on a high note thanks to a 38-7 road trouncing that they gave to the terrible Maryland Terrapins. The Maryland win came off the heels of Michigan’s biggest win of 2019, a 45-14 win over then #8 Notre Dame. The Wolverine’s only losses have come at then #13 Wisconsin, 35-14, and at then #7 Penn State 28-21. Michigan is 5-4 against the spread and the over has hit in six of their nine games this season.
Series History: Michigan won the meeting last season and now leads the all-time series 70-36-5.
Football Prediction: The Michigan State offense can’t score against anyone, so I do not like their chances against this Michigan defense. I am backing the Wolverines -13.5 in this one.
YTD College Football Results: 38-33-1