The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans meet Saturday in college football action from Spartan Stadium. Michigan comes into this one after last weekend’s matchup versus Indiana. The Wolverines went on to win that matchup easily to remain undefeated. As for Michigan State, they played Rutgers in their last outing. In that one the Spartans dropped a close road game to fall to 2-4 overall. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

Michigan Wolverines 

The Wolverines got off to a great start this year, storming out of the gate with a series of blowout wins. Michigan took out East Carolina 30-3, UNLV 35-7, Bowling Green 31-6, Rutgers 31-7, Nebraska 45-7 and Minnesota 52-10 for a perfect 6-0 run over their first half-dozen outings. Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy threw for 219 yards and a score while also bagging another pair of rushing touchdowns. 

Matched up against Indiana over the weekend, Michigan was surprisingly down 7-0 after one quarter but quickly regained their composure in an eventual 52-7 blowout. McCarthy posted 222 yards with three scores this time, and Blake Corum had 52 yards with two rush TDs. Tops in receiving was Colston Loveland with three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. 

Michigan Wolverines Team Facts

• Michigan has won each of its last 27 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Michigan has covered the spread in seven of its last eight October games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Michigan has won the first half in 21 of its last 24 games against conference opponents.
• Each of Michigan’s last four road games against conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.

Michigan State Spartans 

Over on the Spartans’ side, they got off to a nice start this season with a pair of wins over Central Michigan 31-7 and Richmond 45-14. Michigan State hit the skids against tougher opponents after that however, falling to Washington 41-7, Maryland 31-9 and Iowa 26-16. In the loss to the Hawkeyes, the Spartans got 193 yards and three interceptions from QB Noah Kim. 

Back on Saturday versus Rutgers, Michigan State was up 24-6 going into the final quarter. The Spartans were outscored 21-0 from there however and lost 27-24. Redshirt freshman Katin Houser made the start at QB, finishing with 133 yards and two touchdowns. Nathan Carter led the rush with 52 yards and Montorie Foster added 48 yards with a TD on five catches. 

Michigan State Spartans Team Facts

• Michigan State has lost each of its last eight games against top-5 AP-ranked teams.
• Michigan State has failed to cover the spread in 11 of its last 12 games as an underdog against top-10 AP-ranked teams.
• Michigan State has lost the first half in three of its last four games against conference opponents.
• Each of Michigan State’s last five home games in October have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Michigan State has scored fewer than 10 points in two home games this season – most of any FBS team.
• Michigan rank 1st among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (6.7).
• Michigan rank 17th among FBS teams for points per game this season (37.3).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I suppose I’m staying with Michigan here. There’s probably not much chance the Wolverines lose this game, and probably also not much chance the game will be all that close. The big question is margin of victory. Michigan rolled in the Indiana win, posting 407 yards (244 passing) with 23 first downs, 6-of-11 on third-down conversions and zero turnovers. On the other side the Wolverines came up with four takeaways and held the Hoosiers to just 3.7 yards per play. That makes 10 or fewer points allowed in every game so far for the Wolverines, and 30 or more points scored in every game. 

As for Michigan State, they did take a step forward in a few areas in the Rutgers game—which should have been a win were it not for three lost fumbles and a rough 3.5 yards per play. Things certainly aren’t going to get any easier here; Michigan should dominate.