[3:30 PM] Brigham Young @ Michigan State

Who will WIN this matchup?

Brigham Young Cougars (2-3)

@ Michigan State Spartans (2-2)

 

Current odds:

Brigham Young Cougars: (+177)

Michigan State Spartans: (-201)

 

• ESPN simulations have Michigan State as 62.2% favorites to win the game.

• 73% of sports bets are currently on Michigan State to win as (-201) favorites.

• A week after failing to score a touchdown against Wisconsin, the Spartans’ offense did well against Indiana, with quarterback Tyler O’Conner throwing for three touchdowns. But injuries on defense – most notably to linebacker Riley Bullough, who will miss his third straight game – has made it difficult for Michigan State to be consistent on that side of the ball, allowing 27.3 points over the last three contests.

• The Cougars enter the game on a high after a 55-53 victory over Toledo, powered by running back Jamaal Williams’ school-record 286 yards and five touchdowns. Keeping that ground attack going will be tough, though, as the Spartans rank 16th in the nation, allowing 105.5 rushing yards.

• While the win over Toledo was nice – especially the offensive outburst – the fact that they needed every one of those points to win really bothered defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki. The Rockets had 692 yards of total offense, including 505 yards through the air, which Tuiaki blamed mostly on he and the other defensive coaches going to a base package defensively rather than being aggressive as they planned going into the contest.

• Coach Mark Dantonio has heard the questions since the Spartans lost to Wisconsin two weeks ago, wondering if O’Conner will be replaced at quarterback. A second straight loss didn’t help, though O’Conner’s performance – 21-of-35 for 263 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions -helped his coach feel confident that the senior is still the man for the job. O’Conner missed some short balls against the Hoosiers, but also had a couple nice long throws – an 86-yard touchdown to R.J. Shelton and a dropped deep ball to Donnie Corley – and led the Spartans to the game-tying score in the final minutes to force overtime.

• In each of its losses this season, Michigan State has had more total yards and first downs than its opponents.

 
StreakSmarts Pick: Michigan State Spartans

Confidence: 6/10

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