The 2015-16 NCAA Football season is near, and we’re being treated to one hot matchup right off the bat. The No. 5 Michigan State Spartans are back after a successful season, punctuated by a Cotton Bowl win over Baylor. They get their first game of the upcoming season on the road against a surging Western Michigan team. Can the Spartans get off to a hot start, or will the Broncos pull off quite a surprise?
This game features some of the best players in all of college football. Check out our lists on the top 10 quarterbacks and tight ends that about to take the field this upcoming season.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Michigan State Spartans vs. Western Michigan Broncos Preview
Where: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI
When: Friday, September 4, 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN U and Watch ESPN
Line: Michigan State Spartans (-19) at Western Michigan Broncos (+19) – view all NCAA Football lines
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans
If there’s a time for Michigan State to seize the Big Ten title, it’ll be this year. The Spartans are fielding several veterans in the upcoming 2015-2016 college football season with senior quarterback Connor Cook leading the way.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Cook is a Heisman contender — he’s priced at +2,500 to win the trophy — after growing into his role as Michigan State’s premier signal caller. He has passed for over 6,000 yards and 46 touchdowns over the past two seasons as the team’s starter. Cook will also benefit from having his favorite red-zone target in tight end Josiah Price back in action. Price has 584 yards receiving and 10 scores in his collegiate career.
The senior quarterback will also have the advantage of playing behind one of the best offensive lines in college football with Senior All-American Jack Allen at center and potential first-round NFL draft pick left tackle Jack Conklin protecting his blindside.
An elite defense greets opponents on the other side of the ball. Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Shilique Calhoun returns after leading his team with eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss (a whopping 109 yards lost on those tackles, to be exact). Defensive tackle Joel Heath (five tackles for loss) and Freshman All-American Malik McDowell (4.5 tackles for loss) also return.
The Spartans have won all three of their games against Western Michigan since 2009, covering 20-point spreads in two of the past three meetings.
Think big things are in store for the Spartans this season? Create a betting account now and put your money where your mouth is.
Betting on the Western Michigan Broncos
Head coach P.J. Fleck had quite a 2014 season for Western Michigan. The Broncos went 8-6 after picking up just one victory a year before. They can now brace for an even bigger season ahead with quarterback Zach Terrell and running back Jarvion Franklin leading the offense.
Terrell was successful behind a surprisingly strong offensive line last season, passing for 3,443 yards and 26 touchdowns. He’ll have his top three receivers back in Corey Davis (1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns), Daniel Braverman (997 yards and six touchdowns) and Darius Phillips (489 yards and two touchdowns). The running game is also solid with Franklin rushing for 1,551 yards and 24 touchdowns on 306 carries in 2014.
Speaking of the offensive line, it should remain solid with seniors James Kristof and Willie Beavers taking care of Terrell’s blindside. John Keenoy, a promising true freshman, will start at center after impressing coaches this spring. Meanwhile, sophomore right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor also becomes a full-time starter for the first time this season.
The defense should also be solid enough to limit the Spartans’ Cook and Co. Defensive lineman Cleveland Smith returns after tallying 5.5 sacks last season, while Grant DePalma collected 102 tackles himself as part of the Broncos’ front seven. Furthermore, Western Michigan’s strength lies in its secondary that led by All-MAC cornerback Ronald Zamort, who tied for the MAC lead with 17 pass breakups last season and led his own team with four interceptions.
The Broncos have covered the spread in four of their last 11 games as underdogs of 19 points or more.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State goes guns blazing in a 24-point rout of the Broncos. Take the Spartans to cover -19.
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