The Michigan Spartans are looking to rebound offensively from a season in which they severely lacked punch on their attack. They can build on their confidence on offense with a season-opening date with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, who are coming to East Lansing for a big payday for the program — and a shot at taking down an elite program on the road. The Spartans are +8000 to win the national title.
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Betting Preview for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs Michigan State Spartans Week 1 College Football Game on August 30 2019
Where: Spartan Stadium-MI, East Lansing
When: Friday, August 30, 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Tulsa Golden Hurricane (+22.5) vs. Michigan State Spartans (-22.5) – view all 2019 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
Betting on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Golden Hurricane are on the heels of a forgettable 3-9 campaign that was made somehow a less painful by beating the SMU Mustangs in Tulsa’s last game of 2018. There are some positives, though, for the Golden Hurricane heading into the 2019 season, and among those is the return of the backfield tandem of Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II. Despite the struggles in 2018, Tulsa knew what it’s identity was on offense and that was their running game that ranked 16th nationally in rush play percentage and 41st in rushing yards per game (193.8). Brooks led the team with 967 rushing yards to go with seven touchdowns, while Taylor had 846 rushing yards and a team-leading 11 touchdowns. Knowing they got dudes who can run the ball, the Golden Hurricanes need to complement Brooks and Taylor with an improved passing attack, and that will be a pressure on the shoulders of quarterback Zach Smith. Meanwhile, Tulsa’s defense is loaded with experience, entering the season with nine returning starters.
The Golden Hurricane are 4-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last eight games.
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
Defense carried the Spartans in 2018, which was not much of a surprise because that has always been the case for Mark Dantonio’s East Lansing-based squad. But even then, Michigan State’s offense that scored no more than 14 points six times last year was frustrating for the Spartans overall. So long as the defense remains just as sturdy as it was in years past, Michigan’s offense does not have to be spectacular for the team to progress. If Brian Lewerke rediscovers his form in 2017 when he passed for 2,793 yards and 20 touchdowns, that should be enough for the Spartans. Against Tulsa, Lewerke can take his sweet time fine-tuning his game, as the defense should be able to take care of business on its side of the ball. Michigan State returns eight starters on its defense that was tops last year against the run. In other words, Tulsa’s strength in the backfield is likely to be crippled by the Spartans.
The under is 8-0 in the Spartans’ last eight games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spartans win, 37-13.
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