The Michigan State Spartans (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2) meet for a Saturday afternoon Big Ten East Division battle at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET. Below, we look at the Michigan State vs. Rutgers odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Spartans are No. 11 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Michigan State returns to conference play after defeating Western Kentucky, 48-31 last week. The Spartans led that game 45-16 heading into the fourth quarter. MSU struggled in pass defense, allowing 488 yards. In allowing 426.8 total yards per game, the Spartans rank an uncharacteristic 102nd in the nation.
The Scarlet Knights are continuing a brutal section of their 2021 schedule. They enter this contest off losses to Michigan (20-13) and Ohio State (52-13). Rutgers enters Saturday’s home tilt ranked 39th in the nation in defense (320.2 yards per game allowed) and 100th in offense (350.2 total yards per game).
Michigan State at Rutgers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Michigan State -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Rutgers +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Against the spread (ATS): Michigan State -3.5 (-115) | Rutgers +3.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 49.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Michigan State at Rutgers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Michigan State 24, Rutgers 17
Money line
The lean here is on MSU, but PASS on anything more expensive than -175.
Against the spread
The Scarlet Knights are 1-5 ATS in their last half-dozen games as home underdogs. The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between MSU and RU.
Look for the Spartans to grind out an advantage in the ground game. RB Kenneth Walker III totes a 6.8-yards-per-carry average and 8 rushing scores into this game. Michigan State is road-tested after wins at Northwestern and Miami (Fla.). Save for two weeks back – in a low-scoring overtime win against Nebraska, MSU has shown enough on offense to warrant the 3-and-a-hook.
BACK THE SPARTANS -3.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Under is 6-2 in the last eight series meetings.
On what is forecasted as a breezy day in Piscataway, look for enough of a chance of a 40-45-point game to warrant perhaps a partial-unit play on the UNDER 49.5 (-110).
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