Central Michigan Chippewas vs Michigan State Spartans Point Spread Picks

Central Michigan is rebuilding on offense after a 4-8 campaign. QB Daniel Richardson transferred to Florida Atlantic, while WR Carlos Carriere and TE Joel Wilson departed for the pros. The CMU defense was very good last season keeping them in many games and returns loaded with experience. Michigan State also lost its QB in Payton Thorne, who went to Auburn, plus lost its best WR. Noah Kim threw for 174 yards last year and steps in as the new starting quarterback. They were 96th in total offense, 90th in scoring, and 110th in rushing. Michigan State shut down Western Michigan of the MAC in last year's opener, 35-13, then shut out Akron. All the signs point to more defense than offense in this opener. Take Central Michigan/Michigan State UNDER the total - Max Play. 

Michigan State returned 19 starters from last season, so big things were expected this year from this team. They certainly have not looked the part early, as their defense has allowed 23 points per game and they have not faced a fierce offense yet. The bigger problems is injuries, mistakes, turnovers, and just 28.7 ppg on offense. They are in a conference sandwich coming off a conference battle and heading into another after this game. Central Michigan has very little in the way of offense, averaging just 15 ppg, but they do match up well with Michigan State's offense. The Spartans have not been able to run the ball, and the Chippewas have been above average against the pass. This has been a tough spor for a Michigan State team that is 10-21 ATS as a favorite from -23.5 to -31.5. Take the points on Central Michigan.

#2 Michigan State was supposed to be real good and has been great, with a senior QB and a rock solid defense. Michigan State has been in the top 10 in rushing defense the previous four years while allowing 3.3 yards per carry in 2015, and are loaded up front again. The Spartans have picked off five passes and linebacker Riley Bullough had a career-best 14-tackle performance against Oregon that garnered him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Spartans pass defense was dominant the last game and note that they are 23-5-2 ATS after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game. Senior QB Connor Cook has been starting since his sophomore season and has 8 TDs to just 1 pick, and they have a two-headed backfield monster in RBs Madre London and L.J. Scott. WR Aaron Burbridge caught eight passes for 156 yards and three scores in Michigan State's 35-21 win over Air Force last Saturday. They face a MAC team, Central Michigan, that is playing its second straight road game after losing a tough one at Syracuse, 30-27 in OT. They allowed 165 yards rushing, 5.5 yards per carry, and will get chewed up by the Spartan ground attack. The Chippewas are averaging a dreadful 84 rushing yards this season. Central Michigan is also 1-7 SU, 3-5 ATS, in their last eight as double-digit underdogs, plus 5-13 ATS in September. Michigan State has won 15 straight non-conference home games against unranked opponents and is on an 18-9-1 ATS run. Lay the points on Michigan State.