2. Michigan State at Indiana
LINE Michigan State -4.5
ATS PICK Michigan State
There’s a Big Ten blind spot when it comes to Indiana.
The biggest Big Ten blind spot is Michigan – it wasn’t ranked, it’s not being given enough credit for its wins, everyone knows what’s coming, blah, blah blah – but the Hoosiers are the opposite. Everyone seems to still think the 2020 team is the 2021 team, and it’s really, really not.
It stinks that QB Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been healthy. He’s as gutty as it gets, and he’s trying to find his form despite a slew of injuries he’s trying to get past, but he’s struggling and so is the offense.
Here’s part of the reason for the blind spot – Iowa, Cincinnati, Penn State. The Hoosiers dealt with three of the best teams in America, but that’s also sort of the point here.
Michigan State is actually playing as good if not better than those three.
Is there a great win on the Spartan schedule? Beating Nebraska was nice, but that was way too close of a 23-20 thriller. Going to Miami and winning actually isn’t any big deal, and road games against Northwestern and Rutgers are whatever.
Yeah, there’s a chance a rest Indiana team that played a tough schedule could come out roaring against a Spartan team that might be looking ahead to its week off before dealing with Michigan.
That might true for a little while, but the Michigan State offensive balance – starting with a special year from Kenneth Walker, who has 913 yards and averages over seven yards per game – should be enough to grind out a win by more than five.
Indiana vs. Iowa, Cincinnati, and Penn State? Those three 96, IU 30. Which leads us to …
Big Time Big Ten Game No. 1 …
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