Saturday, November 5, 2016

Memorial Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Michigan State Spartans take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Memorial Stadium. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 4 point favorites. This season the Spartans are 2-6-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-5-0. The Fighting Illini have an over/under record of 3-5-0 and they are 4-4-0 against the spread.

Brian Lewerke finished with 100 yards through the air for Michigan State last week. He completed 6 passes out of 10 attempts for a 60% completion percentage. The Spartans were led in rushing by LJ Scott, who finished with 139 yards on 22 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 6 yards per carry. R.J. Shelton was the team leader in receiving with a total of 57 yards and 2 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 29 yards per reception. As a team in that game Michigan State got a total of 23 first downs. Of those first downs, 12 came on the ground while 7 came through the air. They ran 70 total plays for 401 yards for the game. The Spartans ran for 217 yards on 42 attempts.

Jeff George, Jr. finished with 156 yards passing for Illinois last week. He went 16 for 34, resulting in a 47% completion percentage. The Fighting Illini were led on the ground by Reggie Corbin, who finished with 83 yards on 14 carries. He ended the game with an average of 6 yards per rush. Sam Mays led the team in receiving with 39 yards and 2 catches. He finished the game with an average of 20 yards per reception. Illinois had 17 first downs total. 7 came from running the ball and 7 came from a pass. They ran 68 total plays for 245 yards for the contest. The Fighting Illini ran for 89 yards on 34 carries as a team.

Michigan State scores 23.1 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 105th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 17.1 passes on 29.6 attempts for a 57.8 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 228.6 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 70th in college football. The Spartans run for an average of 163 yards per game on 37.6 attempts for an average of 4.3 yards per carry. That ranks them 80th in the nation. They also run 67.3 plays per contest and average 5.8 yards per play for an average of 391.6 yards per game, ranking their offense 82nd overall this season. The Spartans average 20 first downs per game which ranks them 90th in the country. They accumulate 64 penalty yards per game via 6.5 penalties, which ranks 34th in the nation.

Michigan State allows 227.8 passing yards per game, ranking 67th in D-1, and they allow 30 points per contest on defense, which ranks 82nd. They give up 18.9 completions on 29.9 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 63.2. The Spartans allow 166.3 rushing yards per game on 40.3 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 65th in the country. Michigan State allows 394 total yards per game including 5.6 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 57th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.3 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 4.6 penalties for 43.5 yards per game, ranking them 21st among D-1 teams.

Illinois averages 22.6 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 108th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 14.5 passes per game on 26.3 attempts for a 55.2 percent completion percentage. They throw for 167.5 yards through the air per game, ranking them 113th in Division 1. The Fighting Illini run for an average of 163.1 yards per game on 32.3 attempts for an average of 5.1 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 79th on the ground. They also run 58.5 plays per game and average 5.7 yards per play for a total of 330.6 yards per game, ranking them 121st in the country on offense. The Fighting Illini get an average of 15 first downs per game, which ranks 128th in the nation. They average 64.1 penalty yards per game via 7.5 penalties, ranking them 33rd in college football.

Illinois allows an average of 202.9 passing yards per game, which ranks 30th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 29.8 points per contest, which has them ranked 78th in the nation. They give up 16.9 completions on 26.3 attempts for a completion percentage of 64.3 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 194 rushing yards per contest on 45.5 carries for a 4.3 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 87th in the country. Illinois allows 396.9 total yards per game for an average of 5.5 yards per play, which ranks 61st in D-1. They force 1.8 turnovers per contest and 4.8 penalties for 40.5 yards in each contest, ranking 10th in the nation.

Michigan State Betting Trends

Michigan State is 3-5-0 against the over/under this season

Michigan State has an ATS record of 2-6-0 this season

Illinois Betting Trends

Illinois is 3-5-0 against the over/under this season

Illinois has an ATS record of 4-4-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Michigan State

10/31/16 QB Brian Lewerke Leg out for season
10/31/16 QB Damion Terry Undisclosed is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Illinois
10/30/16 LB Byron Bullough Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
10/30/16 DB Demetrious Cox Leg "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
10/30/16 DE Evan Jones Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
10/30/16 S Grayson Miller Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
10/30/16 CB Vayante Copeland Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Illinois
10/07/16 DE Mufi Hunt Knee out indefinitely
10/04/16 DT Raequan Williams Shoulder out indefinitely
09/27/16 LB Jon Reschke Ankle out indefinitely
09/01/16 DT Enoch Smith Jr. Personal left the team

Illinois

10/30/16 RB Austin Roberts Knee "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/30/16 DB Cameron Watkins Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/30/16 WR Desmond Cain Knee "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/30/16 RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn Leg "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/30/16 WR Malik Turner Concussion "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/30/16 QB Wes Lunt Back "?" Saturday vs. Michigan State
10/26/16 2nd QB Chayce Crouch Shoulder out for season
09/17/16 DB Caleb Day ACL out for season
09/08/16 RB Dre Brown ACL out indefinitely
09/08/16 WR Mike Dudek ACL out indefinitely

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State

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