4:05 pm
November 13

Maryland @ #8 Michigan State

Who will WIN this matchup?

Maryland Terrapins (5-4)

@ #8 Michigan State Spartans (8-1)

 

Current odds:

Maryland Terrapins: (+360)

Michigan State Spartans: (-475)

 

• The spread for the game is Michigan State by 11.5 points.

• Michigan State dropped four spots to No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday, a consequence of the Spartans’ first loss of the season last week. The 40-29 loss to Purdue likely was fresh in selection committee members’ minds when they decided to rank Michigan State one spot behind rival Michigan, despite the Spartans’ head-to-head win over the Wolverines just one week earlier.

• The Spartans (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) are not out of the running yet. They would earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game if they win out over the final three weeks of the regular season, a task that begins Saturday against Maryland in East Lansing, Mich.

• The Terrapins (5-4, 2-4) have objectives of their own, namely achieving bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. They are coming off a 31-14 loss to Penn State last week, with Nittany Lions receiver Jahan Dotson burning them for a school-record 242 yards and three touchdowns.

• Maryland will pivot from scouting a star receiver to a star running back. Coach Mike Locksley is bracing his team for Michigan State’s Heisman Trophy candidate, Kenneth Walker III, who did his part against Purdue with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He found the end zone five times the week before that in the win over Michigan. While Walker continues to produce, Michigan State has defensive worries of its own. After allowing 552 total yards and 26 first downs to Michigan, the Spartans gave up 594 yards and 29 to the Boilermakers. Purdue converted on 11 of 18 third downs, keeping Michigan State’s defense on the field for extended stretches.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#8 Michigan State Spartans
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