Let’s see which team takes the win on this Spartans at Hoosiers betting pick.
The Big Ten East division has proven that it may be the toughest division in college football this season, an unfortunate situation for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Four of the seven teams in the division are ranked inside the top ten nationally, and Indiana is playing its second straight game against that group with the Michigan State Spartans coming to town this weekend.
Michigan State Spartans at Indiana Hoosiers Betting Preview
Mel Tucker and the Spartans are proving to be the surprise team in the Big Ten East this season, taking Indiana’s role from 2020. A season ago, it was the Hoosiers that climbed into the top ten of the national polls surprising everyone, but 2021 has proven to be more difficult. Fast forward to 2021, and the Spartans have climbed into the top ten after finishing last season with only two wins.
Michigan State Spartans Team Preview
The Spartans raided college football’s transfer portal to bolster their roster and turn their fortunes around after a disappointing year one under Mel Tucker. The biggest of those transfers has been running back Kenneth Walker from Wake Forest.
Walker comes from a team that has also started off 6-0 this year but is a major reason his current squad has climbed the rankings. Walker currently has the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at the end of the season.
Walker isn’t alone on the offense. Sophomore Payton Thorne has helped the Spartans double their average scoring total per game and has thrown 14 touchdowns to only two interceptions through the first six games. Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor have combined for 11 of those touchdown receptions and create problems for opposing defenses having to account for two-star pass catchers along with a top running back.
Defensively the Spartans have lowered their points allowed average from 35 points per game a season ago to just over 19 per game this year. Mel Tucker’s specialty lies on the defensive side of the ball, and the team seems to be getting up to speed in year two.
Indiana Hoosiers Team Preview
The Hoosiers had high hopes coming into 2021 after finishing 6-2 in 2020 and getting Michael Penix Jr. back from an ACL injury. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, the schedule had other plans in mind. Indiana’s 2-3 record features losses to the number 2, 3, and 7 ranked teams in the country. The schedule doesn’t get any easier either with games against Michigan State (10), Ohio State (6), and Michigan (8).
Statistically, the Hoosiers line up fairly close to where they finished 2020, scoring slightly less points per game and giving up slightly more than a year ago. A big area of concern, though, has come at the quarterback position. Michael Penix has turned the ball over at a much higher frequency, throwing seven interceptions in the first five games.
Betting Preview
Sportsbooks has the Spartans as 5-point favorites on the road in this game and a total points betting line set at 51.
The Spartans have shown they have a balanced offense that can exploit opposing defenses in multiple ways. With the running game opening things up for Thorne and the receivers, it has truly become a “pick your poison” scenario for opponents. Couple that with Indiana’s propensity for turning the ball over, and this game could get out of hand if the Hoosiers aren’t able to clean things up.
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