Michigan State’s trip into Week Four comes with a different kind of angle for this week’s betting card: not a player prop, but the Spartans themselves catching points at home against Nebraska.
After a rough start to the season-long Lock of the Week picks - Week One: Chrishon McCray UNDER 54.5 Receiving Yards, wrong; Week Two: no lock; Week Three: C.J. Carr UNDER 249.5 Passing Yards, correct - the focus shifts away from individual stat lines and toward a matchup that has the feel of a trap for the Cornhuskers.
There were plenty of tempting options on the board. Cam Edwards is still the engine of the Michigan State ground game, and his rushing attempts and rushing yards both looked like reasonable ways to attack this game.
Last week against Notre Dame, Edwards was squeezed by a defense that controlled the game and the clock, leaving him with just 38 rushing yards, seven short of the 44.5-yard number. That kind of workload makes him a player worth monitoring again, especially if Pat Fitzgerald leans on him early and often.
The passing game offered a few angles too. Michigan State has spread the ball around to Rodney Bullard III, Chrishon McCray and Frederick Moore, but the tight end usage has been much more concentrated.
Jordan Savoury has led the Spartans in receptions in each of the last two games, and his 2.5-reception line for Saturday is sitting there as a live option. He has also topped 30 receiving yards in each of Michigan State’s first three games, with his 30-yard receiving line listed around even money.
Still, the best play is on the spread.
Nebraska enters Spartan Stadium as a 5.5-point favorite despite having played only three games, and while the Cornhuskers have a top-25 offense and defense, there’s reason to be cautious about buying all the way in. The teams Nebraska has faced, along with the adjusted ratings tied to those opponents, don’t quite sell the idea that the Cornhuskers are already operating at an elite level.
Michigan State, meanwhile, gets to come home with something to prove after what happened against Notre Dame. This is the Spartans’ first Big Ten game of the season, and the setup points to a team that should bring plenty of aggression.
That doesn’t mean Michigan State has to win outright. It just means the number feels a little too generous for Nebraska.
Michigan State +7.0 (-162)
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Michigan States Hot Start Just Ran Into A Big Ten Reality Check
Michigan States unbeaten run in volleyball came to an end in its Big Ten opener, as Washington handed the Spartans their first loss of the season in four sets. The result was a reminder of how quickly conference play can raise the level of difficulty, even for a team that had rolled to a 10-0 start before the trip into league play.
Alanna Bankston led Michigan State with 14 kills, while Malayah Long finished with 26 assists, but it was not enough to slow a Washington team that stayed perfect at 10-0. The Spartans are now 10-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, with the early setback creating an immediate test for how they respond in one of the nations toughest conferences. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Took A Brutal Loss But One Spartans Effort Stood Out
Michigan State field hockey ran into the No. 1 team in the country on Friday at Lakeside Field and spent most of the afternoon on the back foot in a 6-0 Big Ten loss to Northwestern. The Wildcats controlled possession, piled up chances and kept the Spartans under pressure with a heavy edge in shots and penalty corners, leaving Michigan States defense and goalkeepers to absorb the brunt of the action.
Even in a lopsided result, there were a few Spartans efforts worth noting. Lola Munoz de Verger and Catherine Wolf combined for 10 saves, and the back line had to deal with wave after wave of Northwestern pressure. Michigan State never found the offensive breakthrough it needed, but the way it kept battling in the circle and in front of goal offered one of the few bright spots on a difficult day. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Just Made Its Strongest Early Season Statement Yet
Michigan States mens soccer team kept building on its fast start Friday night at DeMartin Stadium, using Alumni Night to deliver another performance that looked every bit like an early statement in the Big Ten. Richie Ludwig scored twice and Dom Dono added the other goal as the Spartans rolled past Wisconsin 3-0, with the match turning sharply after the Badgers were reduced to 10 men.
All three goals came in a seven-minute burst around halftime, the kind of stretch that can flip a conference match in a hurry and leave little doubt about which team seized control. The result pushed MSU to 3-0-0 in Big Ten play and 7-1-1 overall, the best league start in program history, and it gave the Spartans another reminder that their early-season momentum is no fluke. [Read more 🡒]