Events
NCAAF
Michigan State
Spartans
0 - 0
Northwestern
Wildcats
0 - 0
September 03, 2021, 9:00 PM EDT
 | Ryan Field

Game Preview

Michigan State
Spartans
0 - 0
Northwestern
Wildcats
0 - 0
September 03, 2021, 9:00 PM EDT
 | Ryan Field

  • Coming off a 7-2 SU season that concluded with a win over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl, Northwestern begins defense of its Big Ten West title when it hosts Michigan State. The Spartans handed Northwestern one of those two losses last year, however, shocking the Wildcats as two-touchdown underdogs.

    BetOnline Featured Operator

    Michigan State Spartans vs Northwestern Wildcats
    • Date/Time: September 3, 9 p.m. ET
    • Stadium: Ryan Field
    • TV Coverage: ESPN
    • Sportsbook Odds: Northwestern -7.5 | O/U 45.5 (Line History)
    • Michigan State vs Northwestern Matchup Report

    Sportsbook Odds Analysis

    Bettors have been all over the Spartans in this matchup, betting Michigan State all the way down to a 3-point underdog by the time of writing. The Sportsbook total of 45.5 was one of the lowest on the Week 1 betting board and has seen very little movement in early betting action.

    Michigan State News & Notes

    The Spartans might have been the most difficult team in the nation to get a gauge on last season, upsetting both Michigan and Northwestern as double-digit underdogs while losing their five other games by an average of 26.4 points. Michigan State’s overall 2-5 SU and ATS mark in 2020 dropped Sparty to 6-18 ATS in its last 24 outings and 3-12 ATS in its last 15 Big Ten contests.

    That volatility could continue early this season as the Spartans plug more than 40 new players into the lineup, including either redshirt sophomore Payton Thorne or Temple grad transfer Anthony Russo at starting quarterback. Thorne started Michigan State’s season finale last year at Penn State, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns, while Russo sported a 16-10 SU record in his Temple career but was picked off 32 times in his final 28 games.

    Northwestern News & Notes

    As their 7-2 record to the UNDER last season suggests, the Wildcats relied heavily on their defense for all the success they enjoyed in 2020. That defense could look a lot different this year, however, after losing its top two tacklers in linebackers Blake Gallagher and Paddy Fisher as well as star cornerback Greg Newsome II. Even the coordinator is different as former Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O’Neil takes over from the retired Mike Hankwitz.

    Northwestern will also have a new quarterback under centre as senior Hunter Johnson replaces the departed Peyton Ramsey. Johnson, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Clemson in 2018, didn’t start any games last year after an injury-plagued 2019 campaign in which he threw just one touchdown pass and was picked off four times.

    Staff Betting Pick: OVER 45.5

    This total is higher than we’ve seen for any of the last six meetings between these squads, but oddsmakers may not have adjusted it enough for a Northwestern defense that should take some time to round into form.

    Want more Expert Betting Picks?

    Check out the best sports handicapping services on the market today!

    Buy Sports Picks Now
    Shark Bites
    • Michigan State is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 conference games.
    • Northwestern is 7-1-2 ATS in its last 10 conference games.
    • The OVER is 5-0 in the last five meetings (avg. points: 60.4).
Back to Matchup

Odds

Friday, September 3 Fri Sep 3

Opening
Current
Michigan State
vs9:00pm ET
Northwestern
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+7.5
-107
+252
o45.5
-107
-7.5
-107
-283
u45.5
-107
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+3
-106
+140
o45
-110
-3
-114
-160
u45
-110
Line History
9:00pm ET

Edge Finder

2.92
 Total Score
2.58
233.00
 Passing Yards
314.00
197.00
 Rushing Yards
214.00
22:38
 Time on Field
34:12
56.00
 Number of Plays
85.00
7.68
 Yards Per Play
6.21
2.92
 Total Score
2.58
0.58
 First Quarter
0.25
1.17
 Second Quarter
1.17
0.00
 Third Quarter
0.58
1.17
 Fourth Quarter
0.58
233.00
 Passing Yards
314.00
24.00
 Pass Attempts
38.00
12.00
 Pass Completions
27.00
0.08
 Sacks
0.00
0.58
 Sack Yards
0.00
19.42
 Yards Per Pass
11.63
197.00
 Rushing Yards
214.00
32.00
 Rush Attempts
47.00
6.16
 Yards Per Rush
4.55
0.08
 Interceptions
0.00
0.08
 Fumbles
0.08
0.08
 Fumbles Lost
0.08
0.17
 Total Turnovers
0.08
0.17
 Penalties
0.67
2.50
 Penalty Yards
5.42
22:38
 Time on Field
34:12
56.00
 Number of Plays
85.00
7.68
 Yards Per Play
6.21
0.33
 Punts
0.50
50.50
 Punt Average
40.80
5.50
 Return Yards
5.00

Head To Head

MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
6-4
 Record
4-6
5-5
 ATS
5-5
6-4
 O/U
6-4
29.00
 Score
23.90
120.40
 Rush Yds
98.60
37.40
 Pass Attempts
41.30
61.23
 Completion %
63.68
303.00
 Passing Yds
261.40
423.4
 Total Yds
360
1.40
 Turnovers
1.90
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
2-1
 Record
1-2
2-1
 ATS
1-2
3-0
 O/U
3-0
26.33
 Score
19.67
133.33
 Rush Yds
70.00
36.67
 Pass Attempts
42.67
54.55
 Completion %
56.25
241.33
 Passing Yds
240.33
374.67
 Total Yds
310.33
1.00
 Turnovers
3.00
Nov 28/20 (1 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Home
Away
29
 Score
20
+13.5
 ATS
-13.5
40.5 o
 O/U
40.5 u
195
 Rush Yds
63
27
 Pass Attempts
44
40.74
 Completion %
50.00
167
 Passing Yds
222
362
 Total Yds
285
1
 Turnovers
4
Sep 21/19 (2 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Away
Home
31
 Score
10
-7.5
 ATS
+7.5
35 o
 O/U
35 u
109
 Rush Yds
139
31
 Pass Attempts
37
58.06
 Completion %
51.35
228
 Passing Yds
126
337
 Total Yds
265
1
 Turnovers
3
Oct 6/18 (3 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Home
Away
19
 Score
29
-10.5
 ATS
+10.5
43.5 o
 O/U
43.5 u
96
 Rush Yds
8
52
 Pass Attempts
47
59.62
 Completion %
65.96
329
 Passing Yds
373
425
 Total Yds
381
1
 Turnovers
2
Oct 28/17 (4 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Away
Home
31
 Score
39
-1.5
 ATS
+1.5
40 o
 O/U
40 u
95
 Rush Yds
64
57
 Pass Attempts
50
68.42
 Completion %
68.00
445
 Passing Yds
368
540
 Total Yds
432
2
 Turnovers
1
Oct 15/16 (5 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Home
Away
40
 Score
54
-6.5
 ATS
+6.5
41.5 o
 O/U
41.5 u
51
 Rush Yds
209
42
 Pass Attempts
35
64.29
 Completion %
77.14
424
 Passing Yds
281
475
 Total Yds
490
2
 Turnovers
1
Nov 23/13 (6 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Away
Home
30
 Score
6
-6.5
 ATS
+6.5
41 o
 O/U
41 u
171
 Rush Yds
80
23
 Pass Attempts
46
69.57
 Completion %
58.70
293
 Passing Yds
239
464
 Total Yds
319
0
 Turnovers
3
Nov 17/12 (7 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Home
Away
20
 Score
23
-7
 ATS
+7
47 o
 O/U
47 u
122
 Rush Yds
57
47
 Pass Attempts
43
46.81
 Completion %
60.47
297
 Passing Yds
246
419
 Total Yds
303
4
 Turnovers
0
Nov 26/11 (8 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Away
Home
31
 Score
17
-6
 ATS
+6
53 o
 O/U
53 u
166
 Rush Yds
117
20
 Pass Attempts
34
70.00
 Completion %
70.59
214
 Passing Yds
253
380
 Total Yds
370
1
 Turnovers
1
Oct 23/10 (9 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Away
Home
35
 Score
27
-5
 ATS
+5
51 o
 O/U
51 u
105
 Rush Yds
170
44
 Pass Attempts
30
68.18
 Completion %
63.33
352
 Passing Yds
215
457
 Total Yds
385
1
 Turnovers
2
Oct 17/09 (10 of 10)
MSU
 Stat Type NWEST
Home
Away
24
 Score
14
-14
 ATS
+14
48 o
 O/U
48 u
94
 Rush Yds
79
31
 Pass Attempts
47
67.74
 Completion %
72.34
281
 Passing Yds
291
375
 Total Yds
370
1
 Turnovers
2

Team Records

MSU
 Record NWEST
0-0
 All
0-0
0-0
 Home
0-0
0-0
 Away
0-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 ATS
0-0
0-0
 ATS Home
0-0
0-0
 ATS Away
0-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 O/U
0-0
0-0
 O/U Home
0-0
0-0
 O/U Away
0-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
MSU
 Record NWEST
0-0
 All
0-0
0-0
 Home
0-0
0-0
 Away
0-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 ATS
0-0
0-0
 ATS Home
0-0
0-0
 ATS Away
0-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 O/U
0-0
0-0
 O/U Home
0-0
0-0
 O/U Away
0-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
MSU
 Record NWEST
0-0
 All
0-0
0-0
 Home
0-0
0-0
 Away
0-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 ATS
0-0
0-0
 ATS Home
0-0
0-0
 ATS Away
0-0
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
0-0
 O/U
0-0
0-0
 O/U Home
0-0
0-0
 O/U Away
0-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

8:00pm Cloudy
22ºC / 71ºF
66% Humidity
24% Precipitation
95% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type Open
Field Image
Arrow Image 9
 mph

Trends

  • Michigan State are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games.
  • Michigan State are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
  • Michigan State are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games on the road.
  • Michigan State are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Northwestern.
  • Michigan State are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Michigan State's last 6 games played in September.
  • Michigan State are 11-0 SU in their last 11 games played in week 1.
  • Northwestern are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Northwestern's last 9 games.
  • Northwestern are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Northwestern's last 5 games against Michigan State.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Northwestern's last 7 games at home.
  • Northwestern are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Michigan State.
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Northwestern's last 8 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
  • Northwestern are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played in September.
  • Northwestern are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games played in week 1.
  • Northwestern are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing as the favourite.

Injuries

NamePositionInj Desc
No Reported Injuries
NamePositionInj Desc
No Reported Injuries

Last 10 Games

DateOppScoreSULineTotalATSOFF. RUSHOFF. PASSOFF. TOTALDEF. RUSHDEF. PASSDEF. TOTALTO
Dec 12, 2020PSU24-39L+14.5/46-L/O643253891192864050
Dec 5, 2020OSU12-52L+22.5/59-L/O811802613221995213
Nov 28, 2020NWEST29-20W+13.5/40.5-W/O19516736263222285-3
Nov 14, 2020INDY0-24L+7.5/52.5-L/U601311911133204332
Nov 7, 2020IOWA7-49L+5.5/46-L/O592272862261794053
Oct 31, 2020MICH27-24W+21.5/52-W/U1263234491523004520
Oct 24, 2020RUT27-38L-9.5/45-L/O503193691061702764
Dec 27, 2019WAKE27-21W-3.5/51.5-W/U1773204971761753511
Nov 30, 2019MARYL19-16W-21.5/47.5-L/U88342430164152316-1
Nov 23, 2019RUTGER27-0W-21.5/43.5-W/U1562393958357140-1
View Game Logs
DateOppScoreSULineTotalATSOFF. RUSHOFF. PASSOFF. TOTALDEF. RUSHDEF. PASSDEF. TOTALTO
Jan 1, 2021AUB35-19W-4/45-W/O16629145761300361-1
Dec 19, 2020OSU10-22L+16.5/57.5-W/U1052243293991145131
Dec 12, 2020ILL28-10W-13.5/41.5-W/U411824931551072621
Nov 28, 2020MSU20-29L-13.5/40.5-L/O632222851951673623
Nov 21, 2020WIS17-7W+7/43-W/U24239263136230366-4
Nov 14, 2020PUR27-20W-3.5/48-W/U8021229222632650
Nov 7, 2020NEB21-13W-4/54-W/U1481693172242184420
Oct 31, 2020IOWA21-20W-1/42.5-P/U143130273772162930
Oct 24, 2020MARY43-3W-13/52.5-W/U32521253764143207-4
Nov 30, 2019ILLINO29-10W+6/39-W/P3785543314146160-1
View Game Logs