2. Rutgers at Michigan State
LINE: Michigan State -12.5
ATS PICK: Michigan State
– Bet on this, BetMGM latest line
We’re all flying blind here when it comes to the Big Ten, especially in this game.
How much will new head coach Mel Tucker matter to a Michigan State team that couldn’t score – tasteless analogy cheerfully withheld – last year?
What will new head man Greg Schiano bring to Rutgers to change around the program right away?
Here’s what we know. Michigan State is closer to being okay than Rutgers is to being merely passable.
The Spartans aren’t going to blow off anyone’s doors with their offense, but they might not have to. As bad as they were last year, the defense was strong late – including a 27-0 win over Rutgers – and all you’re giving up here are 12.5 points.
Rutgers? This isn’t Arkansas, which had players for new head coach Sam Pittman to build around. This is a total gut job rehab project on the dilapidated house.
New year, new coach, new attitude, new players, new team, however, you’re going to be kicking yourself if you don’t at least throw a flier against a program that failed to score more than seven points in seven of its 12 games last season, was shut out three times, and lost by way more than 12.5 in every game except for the wins over UMass and Liberty.