Michigan State Spartans vs. Maryland Terrapins Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NCAA Football Week Eight Betting Preview – October 22, 2016

Michigan State Spartans vs. Maryland Terrapins Preview

Where: Maryland Stadium, College Park

When: Saturday, October 22, 7:30 PM ET

Line: Michigan State Spartans (-2) vs. Maryland Terrapins (+2);total: 54.0 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines

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Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (-2)

Guess who got a Crying Jordan meme treatment last Saturday? The Spartans, of course, after they were whipped by Northwestern in a 54-40 loss in East Lansing. The loss was Michigan State’s fourth straight and the team will get another chance of breaking its skid when it takes on Maryland, a team they’ve beaten in each of the last two meetings dating back to 2014.

There have been so many issues the Spartans have had to deal with this season and those are obviously hurting the team. The quarterback position has been a toss-up of late with starter Tyler O’Connor getting benched in the loss to BYU to give way to Damion Terry.

Terry didn’t impress either, paving the way for another start for O’Connor in the Northwestern game. O’Connor played well against the Wildcats, passing for 281 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

Regardless of who will start under center this Saturday though, the Spartans won’t have much success in the game if their defense continues to be garbage. They were lit up by Northwestern for 490 total yards, 209 of which came on the ground.

On the season, the Spartans are 85th in the nation with 30.0 points allowed per contest.

Betting on the Maryland Terrapins (+2)

Like the Spartans, Maryland is having some quarterback quandaries of its own.

Starter Perry Hills is being slowed down by a shoulder injury that has made it possible for freshman Tyrrell Pigrome to take over the gig last week against Minnesota. Unfortunately for the Terps, Pigrome was far from messianic under center, completing just 18 of 37 throws for 161 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

The upside for the Terrapins’ passing attack this Saturday, however, is that Michigan State’s pass defense has been extremely soft. The Spartans are second worst in the Big Ten with 229.7 passing yards allowed per contest. Having said that, the key for Maryland to defeating Michigan State could be its ground game, which is ranked 16th in the FBS with 250.0 yards covered per outing.

To that end, the Terps will have to get solid performances from the likes of Lorenzo Harrison III and Ty Johnson, who pace the team with 397 and 367 rushing yards, respectively, while combining for seven rushing touchdowns.

Maryland is 5-5 ATS in its last 10 games at home.

Writer’s Prediction

Michigan State (-2) wins, 35-28.

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