Michigan State Northwestern Betting – Spartans Aim To Stay Undefeated In 2010
The Michigan State Spartans have defied their history and a long-running set of negative tendencies. Can they remain perfect this Saturday against Northwestern?
NCAA football betting: Michigan State Spartans @ Northwestern Wildcats
Online Betting Odds: Michigan State -5
Why To Bet On Michigan State
The Spartans are not living down to their longstanding reputation. Michigan State historically loses trap games and ambush games, but so far, MSU is spotless and sparkling through seven contests. Coach Mark Dantonio might not be on the sidelines these days as he deals with blood clots and the after-effects of a heart attack suffered in September, but his team is getting the job done with noticeable consistency. The Spartans are getting poised and mature quarterback play from Kirk Cousins, who floundered last season and committed far too many turnovers. This year, Cousins is making much better decisions, especially in the red zone. That's really paying off for Sparty, which is minimizing its mistakes while relying on its defense to do most of the dirty work. Last week, Michigan State's offense was hardly spectacular, but the Spartans ground down Illinois Fighting Illini’s offense in a blue-collar 26-6 win that really solidified their standing atop the Big Ten alongside the Iowa Hawkeyes. A number of people felt Illinois was ready to spring the kind of upset which historically hijacks a Michigan State season; the fact that the upset didn't come close to happening is a powerful sign of how different this MSU team really is. Don't expect a letdown on the road this weekend in Evanston, Illinois, against Northwestern.
Why To Bet On Northwestern
The Northwestern Wildcats are 5-1, but frankly, they've played very poorly this season. Quarterback Dan Persa's been really special, completing a very high percentage of passes and being an efficient field general. However, the rest of the Wildcats have been very spotty, committing all sorts of penalties and enduring multiple special-team nightmares.
Now, why is this a reason to pick Northwestern? Simply stated, the Wildcats – coming off a bye week – should be chomping at the bit. Coach Pat Fitzgerald had two full weeks of practice in which to tear out his team and, all the while, teach fundamentals to his players. Northwestern is playing at home and is not likely to play the entire second half of its season without playing a solid game. This is an obvious ambush opportunity for the Wildcats, and this will be one of the games in which they load up emotionally as they attempt to knock off an unbeaten, top-10-dwelling foe. It's very easy to see a close game unfolding this weekend, especially since the Wildcats pulled a major Big Ten upset last year at Iowa. It's entirely possible that Northwestern could surprise an unbeaten conference rival for the second year in a row.
How The Game Will Play Out
Northwestern will be sharper and steadier, but Michigan State has been good enough to withstand each and every challenge thus far. If this game is close in the fourth quarter, Michigan State should have the tougher offensive line and a quarterback – Cousins – who has learned from all the mistakes he made in 2009. Take Michigan State by a touchdown, covering the number on the road.
Michigan State Northwestern Betting Pick: Michigan State -5
