Utah St. vs. Michigan St. Total Pick
Can No. 11 Michigan State put on a dominant defensive performance on Friday when it hosts Utah State at 7PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
141 Utah State at 142 Michigan State
Friday, August 31, 2018
7PM ET – Spartan Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Michigan State is the clear favorite in this game, as the Spartans are getting odds of -23.5 points against Utah State. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 50.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 52 percent going on Michigan State at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Football Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Utah State posts losing record
With a bowl loss to New Mexico State, Utah State finished the 2017 season with a 6-7 record. The Aggies were also 6-7 against the spread last season while going 9-4 with the over.
Utah State was an offense to deal with last year, as the Aggies put up 392 points over their 13 games while giving up 350 on defense. Jordan Love came on as the starting quarterback late in the season and finished with 1,631 passing yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. Love also cane move on the ground, but had just 165 yards last season. Utah State loses its leading rusher from last year, but has Ron’quavion Tarver back. He had a team-high 48 catches for 569 yards and seven scores.
Michigan State posts double-digit wins
Michigan State won its final three games of the season, including a 42-17 win over Washington State in the bowl game, to finish the 2017 campaign at 10-3. MSU was also 8-5 against the spread while posting a 7-6 record with the under.
The Spartans are getting some preseason love due to a lot of returning players. MSU was great defensively last year, allowing just 260 points while scoring 319. The team brings back quarterback Brian Lewerke after he threw for 2,793 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 559 yards and eight scores. The Spartans also have leading rusher LJ Scott back. He rushed for 898 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017. Lewerke has his top three targets from last year returning as well, highlighted by Felton Davis III, who caught nine touchdown passes.
College Football Betting Trends
Utah State
Utah State has hit the over in five of its last six road games and in four of its last five non-conference games.
Michigan State
Michigan State has hit the under in seven of its last 10 home games and in five of its last seven Friday games.
Prediction:
Utah State can score, but the Aggies struggled on offense in last year’s big non-conference games with Wisconsin and Wake Forest, scoring just 10 points in each. The Spartans have a defense capable of doing that at home on Friday. While MSU returns a lot on offense, the Spartans are more about ball control and eating up clock. I don’t expect them to be able to run up the score too fast.
College Football Prediction: Utah State/Michigan State Under 50.5