The Eastern Michigan Eagles take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan, on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan State is favored by -17.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -900. The total is set at 49.5 points.
Here's my Eastern Michigan vs. Michigan State predictionand college football pick for Saturday, September 12.
Eastern Michigan vs. Michigan State Pick: Over 49.5 (Play to 49 at -125 or Better)
My Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan best betis on the over. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page .
Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State Spread: Eastern Michigan +17, Michigan State -17
Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State Over/Under: 49.5 Total Points
Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State Moneyline: Eastern Michigan ML +650, Michigan State ML -900
Can the MAC do it twice in one week?
After Western Michigan 's win turned loss turned lawsuit, it will be in-state rival Eastern Michigan's turn to try and take a Big Ten opponent down to the wire.
And there are a few reasons to believe the Eagles will find success in East Lansing, at least offensively.
Continuity favors the Eagles here, as they bring to town the most experienced returning roster in the MAC, headlined by former Michigan State starting quarterback Noah Kim.
Kim will need to avoid forcing throws into traffic seeking a "moment" in this one, but the Spartans' defense looked vulnerable to big plays against Toledo in Week 1. Michigan State allowed 9.3 yards per pass attempt to the Rockets, which plays right into Eastern Michigan's hands.
The Eagles can't run the football, but they know that, throwing on more than 60% of their offensive snaps. They play up-tempo, finishing last season 42nd nationally in seconds per play.
The Spartan defense wore down in the second half against Toledo, allowing drives into field goal range on four of the Rockets' final six full drives last week. Tackling in space was an issue, as was conditioning (see the mid-play vomit from a Spartan offensive lineman).
If these mistakes become trends, Kim has the talent to lead the Eagles' offense to scoring range multiple times in this game and find pay dirt.
The good news for Pat Fitzgerald in Week 2? His offense should feel like it is on the verge of breaking out.
The stats don't tell the full story from MSU's win over Toledo, as the offense moved the ball at will for most of the game before stalling out repeatedly in scoring territory.
The Spartans reached field goal range on all six of their first six drives of the game; the problem was that it only amounted to one touchdown before five consecutive field goal attempts.
While kicker Liam Boyd banged through five of his six attempts, Fitzgerald and new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan are certainly hoping for more success in the red zone this time around.
Fitzgerald told local media he plans to take some more deep shots this week, and that bodes well against an Eastern Michigan defense that was just gashed through the air for 317 passing yards by San Jose State .
Alessio Milivojevic largely looked the part as Fitzgerald's QB1 of choice, and he found a favorite big-play target in Rodney Bullard Jr. as the game went on.
Add UConn transfer Cam Edwards to the mix in the backfield, and Michigan State should be able to replicate the ability to march down the field at will.
With a little better fortune in scoring distance, and some likely added aggression from Sheridan and Fitzgerald to chase the end zone, there's reason to believe this could be a high-scoring ball game.
Eastern Michigan's pass-happy, up-tempo attack feels tailor-made to cause problems for a Michigan State defense that struggled with explosive plays and fatigue in Week 1.
On the flip side, Michigan State should dominate the trenches, and Fitzgerald needs to send a message and convert successful drives into touchdowns, not field goals.
It may not end with as much drama as Western Michigan's near-upset of the Wolverines, but it could be an even more entertaining watch … until the 61st minute of course.
Get it down to the key number of 49 in case seven touchdowns hits the number dead on, as long as you can find odds of -125 or better.
Pick: Over 49.5 (Bet to 49 at -125 or Better)
