The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Michigan State Spartans are ready to collide on the grass at Spartan Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET and interested parties can witness the action live on FOX.
Betting Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State has been tabbed as heavily favored in this matchup and is currently giving up 27 points to Rutgers. If the Spartans stumble early it’ll create a nice in-game betting scenario. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 37.5 points.
With the spread opening at -28 and the total set initially at 38, this matchup’s betting odds have swayed slightly.
The Scarlet Knights are 6-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 4.2 units this season. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 4-7.
The Spartans are down 1.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. They’re 4-7 ATS and also own an O/U record of 4-7.
The Scarlet Knights are 1-10 straight up (SU), including 0-8 SU against conference opponents. The Spartans are 6-5 SU overall and 4-4 SU in conference play.
The Scarlet Knights hope to bounce back after a 20-7 loss to Penn State last week where the Scarlet Knights completed 5-of-16 passes for 46 yards and two interceptions. Giovanni Rescigno went two-for-8 for 28 yards while Artur Sitkowski completed three-of-seven for 18 yards and two interceptions. Raheem Blackshear (102 rushing yards on 22 attempts, one TD) and Isaih Pacheco (53 yards on 18 carries) led the ground attack in the loss while Bo Melton (three receptions, 29 yards) and Blackshear (one catch, six yards) handled the receiving duties.
Michigan State most-recently fell 9-6 to Nebraska. The defensive unit let the Cornhuskers run for 103 yards on 30 rush attempts. Devine Ozigbo put up a good outing in the win for Nebraska, recording 74 rushing yards on 18 attempts. For Michigan State, Rocky Lombardi completed 15-of-41 passes for 146 yards and one interception. Connor Heyward (80 rushing yards on 21 attempts) and the signal-caller Lombardi (53 yards on nine carries) led the ground game in the defeat as Heyward (five receptions, 78 yards) and Darrell Stewart Jr. (four catches, 23 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Rutgers has run the ball on 53.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Michigan State has an overall rush percentage of 48.0 percent. The Scarlet Knights have produced 136.5 rush yards per game (including 127.1 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 12 scores via handoffs this year. The Spartans are putting up 120.6 rush yards per game (117.4 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Scarlet Knights offense has averaged 134.3 yards through the air overall (122.5 per game against conference opposition) and has four passing scores so far. The Spartans have recorded 225.4 pass yards per contest (212 against Big 10 competition) and have 11 total pass TDs.
Rutgers should have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s let opponents rush for an average of 221.9 yards and pass for 187.9 yards per game. The Michigan State defense has allowed 241.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 78.9 yards per game on the ground. The Spartans are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.86 to opponents, while the Scarlet Knights have given up a 6.33 ANY/A.
Offensively, Sitkowski has amassed 1,118 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 50 percent of his 254 attempts with four passing scores and 17 interceptions. He’s got a 1.27 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at -3.66 over the past two outings.
The Scarlet Knights will likely try to maintain tempo by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. The tagteam of Isaih Pacheco (371 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Raheem Blackshear (539 rush yards, three rush TDs, two receiving TDs) have delivered in the offensive gameplans for Rutgers.
In the other huddle, Rocky Lombardi has completed 42-of-91 passes for 473 yards, two TDs and two INTs. Lombardi’s ANY/A stands at 4.11 for the year and 3.00 over his past two outings.
The Spartans should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. In addition to Connor Heyward (213 receiving yards), Cody White (332 receiving yards and two receiving TDs) and Rocky Lombardi (63 rush yards) have gotten a multitude of action recently.
When these two squads met last year, Michigan State knocked off Rutgers soundly 40-7.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan State Spartans Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Michigan State, ATS Winner: Rutgers, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- Michigan State has lost eight fumbles this season while Rutgers has let six get away.
- The Michigan State defense has created 25 sacks on the year while Rutgers has just 14.
- Rutgers, as a team, has produced 4.0 yards per carry over its past three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
- Michigan State has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.5 over its last two.
- In its last three games, Michigan State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Rutgers’ previous game was set at 53. The under cashed in the team’s 20-7 defeat to Penn State.
- In its last three matchups, Rutgers is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Michigan State’s last outing was 48. The under cashed in the 9-6 loss to Nebraska.
