Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans Picks & Preview | NCAAFB Week 8

One of the best rushers in college football will be featured when Blake Corum and the Michigan Wolverines (7-0) visit the Michigan State Spartans (2-4) on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

The Wolverines are very big favorites (currently -24) in their matchup against the Spartans, with the over/under being 48 points. (In terms of the moneyline, the Wolverines are -3365 and the Spartans are +1290.)

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Game Info for Michigan vs. Michigan State

• Game Day: Saturday, October 21, 2023
• Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
• TV Channel: NBC
• Location: East Lansing, Michigan
• Stadium: Spartan Stadium

Michigan Pick Insights

• Michigan’s ATS record is 3-3-1 this season.
• When it has played as at least 24-point favorites this season, Michigan is 1-3-1 against the spread.
• Michigan games with a set total have hit the over three times this season (42.9%).

Michigan Stats & Insights

• On defense, Michigan has been a top-25 unit, ranking second-best by surrendering only 233.1 yards per game. The offense ranks 54th (413.7 yards per game).
• Michigan has been firing on all cylinders this year, as they rank 10th-best in scoring offense (39.4 points per game) and best in scoring defense (6.7 points allowed per game).
• Michigan has the 70th-ranked offense this season in terms of passing yards (231.7 passing yards per game), and has been better on the other side of the ball, ranking second-best with only 142.1 passing yards allowed per game.
• Michigan sports the 41st-ranked offense this season in terms of rushing yards (182 per game), and has been more effective defensively, ranking 11th-best with just 91 rushing yards allowed per game.
• Michigan has been a handful for opposing teams on third down, ranking top-25 in both third-down offense (fourth-best with a 55.4% third-down conversion rate) and third-down defense (15th-best with a 31.5% third-down conversion rate allowed) this year.
• Michigan has forced 12 total turnovers (19th in the FBS) this season and have turned it over five times (11th in the FBS) for a turnover margin of +7, the ninth-best in college football.

Michigan’s Best Players

• J.J. McCarthy has 1,512 passing yards for Michigan, completing 78.2% of his passes and throwing 14 touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He’s also helped out on the ground with 160 rushing yards (22.9 ypg) on 30 carries with three rushing touchdowns.
• Corum has racked up 546 yards on 96 carries while finding the end zone 12 times as a runner.
• This season, Donovan Edwards has carried the ball 60 times for 197 yards (28.1 per game) and one touchdown, while also racking up 161 yards through the air.
• Roman Wilson’s leads his squad with 396 yards as a receiver. He’s racked up that yardage on 25 catches (out of 33 targets) and scored nine touchdowns.
• Cornelius Johnson has caught 19 passes for 357 yards (51 yards per game) and one touchdown this year.
• Colston Loveland has a total of 285 receiving yards so far this year, grabbing 19 throws and scoring two touchdowns.
• Jaylen Harrell has racked up 4.5 sacks to lead the team, while also picking up three TFL and 16 tackles.
• Junior Colson, Michigan’s top tackler, has 35 tackles and two TFL this year.
• Keon Sabb has picked off a team-leading two passes. He also has 13 tackles and three passes defended to his name.

Michigan State Betting Insights

• Michigan State has a 4-2-0 record against the spread this season.
• Out of Michigan State’s six games with a set total, three have hit the over (50%).

Michigan State Pick Insights

• From an offensive standpoint, Michigan State is compiling 350.3 total yards per contest (97th-ranked). It ranks 35th in the FBS on the other side of the ball (334 total yards allowed per game).
• Michigan State has been sputtering offensively, ranking 25th-worst in the FBS with 22 points per game. It has been more effective on defense, giving up 24.3 points per contest (61st-ranked).
• Michigan State ranks 70th in the FBS with 231.7 passing yards per game on offense, and it ranks 60th with 219.2 passing yards given up per game on defense.
• Michigan State ranks 23rd-worst in rushing yards per game (118.7), but it has been more effective on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 32nd in the FBS with 114.8 rushing yards surrendered per contest.
• Michigan State’s third-down defense has been leading the charge for the team, as it ranks third-best in the FBS with a 24.4% third-down conversion percentage allowed. In terms of offense, it is posting a 35.9% third-down rate, which ranks 101st.
• Michigan State has forced nine turnovers this season and have turned it over 15 times, resulting in a -6 turnover margin that is eighth-worst in the FBS.

Michigan State’s Best Players

• Noah Kim has compiled 1,090 yards (181.7 ypg) while completing 56.5% of his passes and tossing six touchdown passes with six interceptions this season.
• The team’s top rusher, Nathan Carter, has carried the ball 113 times for 529 yards (88.2 per game) with four touchdowns.
• Jalen Berger has run for 90 yards across 24 attempts, scoring one touchdown.
• Montorie Foster has collected 24 receptions this season and his team-high yardage total sits at 274 (45.7 yards per game). He’s been targeted 39 times and has one touchdown.
• Tre Mosley has put together a 228-yard season so far with two touchdowns. He’s caught 23 passes on 37 targets.
• Jaron Glover’s 23 targets have resulted in 12 receptions for 227 yards.
• Brandon Wright has collected two sacks to lead the team, while also recording one TFL and 10 tackles.
• Cal Haladay is the team’s leading tackler this year. He’s picked up 40 tackles, four TFL, one sack, and one interception.
• Jaden Mangham has a team-leading two interceptions to go along with 22 tackles and two passes defended.