Michigan State vs Youngstown State 9/11/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Michigan State Spartans meet the Youngstown State Penguins Saturday in week 2 college football action from Spartan Stadium. This will be game number two of 2021 for both teams. Youngstown State eked out an overtime victory over Incarnate Word in their first action of the season. As for Michigan State, they played Northwestern in their first game. The Spartans posted a 17-point win to go 1-0 on the young season. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Youngstown State managed to play seven games this past spring, but things didn’t go so well. The Penguins finished a dismal 1-6 overall and one spot out of the basement in the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings, just above Western Illinois. 

Youngstown State got off to a nice start in 2021, posting a gutsy 44-41 overtime victory versus Incarnate Word. Jaleel McLaughlin was the star of the show in that one, rushing 29 times for a whopping 242 yards and two touchdowns. QB Demeatric Crenshaw added two rushing scores and a pass TD as well. 

Over on the Michigan State side, they played seven games last season, ultimately posting a rough 2-5 record. That mark left the Spartans in last place in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. It was a step back from 2019 as well; a season which included a 7-6 record and a bowl win. 

In the opener game this year versus Northwestern, Michigan State emerged victorious 38-21. The Spartans had a 21-7 lead at the break and were in control for most of the game. Kenny Walker was the biggest contributor, notching a whopping 264 yards and four scores on 23 rushes. 

The Penguins are 5-1 ATS in their last six games on grass and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games. Youngstown State is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 in September and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 on the road. 

Meanwhile, the Spartans are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 overall and 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 after a win. Michigan State is 3-9 ATS versus a team with a winning record and 5-16 ATS in their last 21 home games. 

PICK: I’m sticking with Michigan State. The Spartans looked pretty good in their opener, posting 511 total yards (326 rushing) and 8.1 yards per play. Michigan State worked quickly with 63 total plays (to Northwestern’s 81) and just 22:25 in time of possession. 

As for Youngstown State, they showcased some nice rushing capabilities in their opener, so you can expect a lot of ground attacking on both sides here. I like the Penguins to hang around for a while before the Spartans eventually pull away and cover.