Michigan State Spartans vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick, Odds, Pinstripe Bowl Prediction 12/27/2019

Game: Michigan State Spartans vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Date: Friday, December 27, 2019

Pinstripe Bowl

Location: Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Wake Forest +3

Total/Over-Under: 50

Jamie Newman and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons host the Michigan State Spartans at Yankee Stadium on Friday, December 27, 2019 in the Pinstripe Bowl. Michigan State opens this matchup as 3-point favorites. The Spartans are 3-9-0 ATS and 5-7-0 when betting on the total. The Demon Deacons are 5-7-0 when wagering on the over/under and 5-6-1 against the spread.

In their last outing, the Michigan State Spartans took on the Maryland Terrapins and ended up getting the victory by a score of 19-16. Elijah Collins led the team on the ground in the game. He tore off a long run of 21 yards but he never crossed the endzone by way of the rush. He scurried for 41 yards via 15 carries which gave him an average of 2.7 yards per tote. Cody White led the team in receiving yardage by earning 84 yards on 4 receptions. He had an average of 21.0 yards per catch in the game. Running the show from under center for the Spartans was Brian Lewerke who went 30/41 with 342 yards through the air but wasn't able to throw a ball for a TD. He gave away 2 picks on the day. The Spartans ran the ball 37 times and earned a total of 88 yards which had them averaging 2.4 yards per rush. For the game, the Spartans earned 23 first downs and they had a total of 4 penalties for 40 yards which is telling of how their week of practice went. Overall, they ran 79 plays which added up to 430 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan State conceded 12 catches on 28 attempts totaling 152 yards, and a completion percentage of 42.9%. For this contest, they conceded 316 yards and forced 3 takeaways. Against the run, the Spartans conceded 164 yards on 29 runs which is an average of 5.7 yards per run allowed.

The Spartans come into this matchup with a record of 6-6 in 2019. In terms of scoring, they are one of the worst in the country averaging 22 points per contest, ranking them 107th in Division 1. As a unit, they are averaging 124.1 rushing yards per contest which is 13th in the Big Ten. For total yardage, they currently sit at 10th in the Big Ten and 102nd in Division 1 with 4,351 yards. The Spartans have one of the middle tier defenses in the country, allowing 22.7 points per game which has them at 7th in the Big Ten Conference. When it comes to yards through the air, the Spartans have conceded 2,862 yards. Opponents are completing 61.2% of the passes they throw against them and averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. In terms of yards rushing, Michigan State is allowing 109.5 yards per contest which has them at 4th in the Big Ten and 14th in Division 1. They are allowing teams to run for an average of 3.3 yards per carry putting them 4th in the Big Ten Conference and 13th in Division 1 overall. Overall, they have conceded 1,314 yards rushing through 12 contests.

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In their last game, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons took on the Syracuse Orange and were beaten 39-30. Leading the way at QB for the Demon Deacons was Sam Hartman who went 25/42 with 350 yards passing and tossed 2 TD's. He gave away 2 interceptions during the game. Cade Carney led the team on the ground during the game. His longest run of the day went for 19 yards and he tallied 1 touchdown in the game. He rushed for 54 yards by way of 12 carries which meant he averaged 4.5 yards per tote. Donavon Greene was the receiving yardage leader with a total of 172 yards on 7 receptions. He averaged 24.6 yards per reception during the game. The Demon Deacons rushed the ball a total of 44 times and racked up 151 yards giving them an average of 3.4 yards per run. In the game, the Demon Deacons earned a total of 32 1st downs and they had a total of 7 penalties for 61 yards which tells us their heads weren't always in the game. In the game, they ran 100 plays for 572 yards. When it comes to their defensive performance, Wake Forest conceded 23 catches on 39 throws totaling 261 yards, and a completion percentage of 59.0%. For the game, they allowed a total of 441 yards and earned 3 takeaways. In the running game, the Demon Deacons conceded 180 yards on 44 runs which is an average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempt allowed.

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The Demon Deacons head into this matchup 8-4. Wake Forest is making teams consider moving more up into the box by averaging 175.7 yards on the ground per contest, putting them 47th in college football. As a unit, they have compiled a total of 2,108 yards rushing through 12 contests, so they'll look to the run game to try to keep the opponents off balance so they'll have open receivers. The Demon Deacons average 473.4 yards per contest overall which has them at 12th in the country and 2nd in the conference. The Demon Deacons are conceding 29.3 points per game which puts them at 9th in the conference and 79th in the country. In regard to points allowed, they have given up 352 total points. When talking about yards on the ground, they are allowing 162.6 yards per contest which puts them at 73rd in D-1 and 9th in the conference. For this year, they have allowed a total of 1,951 yards rushing and 15.6 rushing TDs. Their passing defense is one of the middle of the road units in Division 1. They are allowing 247.2 passing yards per game. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Demon Deacons currently sit at 10th in the ACC.

Who will win tonight's Spartans/Demon Deacons college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Spartans -3

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