#7 Oregon Ducks at #5 Michigan State Spartans
Spartan Stadium – East Lansing, Michigan
Saturday, September 12, 2015, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
Opening Line: Michigan State -2 1/2
Current Line: Michigan State -4
Opening Total: 67 1/2
Current Total: 67
Opening Money Line: Michigan State -170 / Oregon +150
Current Money Line: Michigan State -185 / Oregon +160
The first battle between top 10 teams in the young 2015 season occurs Saturday as the #5 Michigan State Spartans host the #7 Oregon Ducks. It is the first top ten battle in East Lansing since the famous Notre Dame-MSU game in 1966 ended in a tie. That is a little surprising considering how great Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin have been in recent years.
Oregon leads the series against Michigan State 3-2. The home team has won every game in this series. Oregon won last year in Eugene 46-27, and both teams were ranked in the top 25 in that one too. The two teams also played home and homes in 1979-80 and 1998-99.
Oregon is coached by Mark Helfrich. The Ducks opened the season last week with a 61-42 win over Eastern Washington in Eugene. Michigan State is coached by Mark Dantonio. The Spartans opened the season with a 37-24 win at Western Michigan.
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Oregon was a 35 point favorite against Eastern Washington and the total was 78.5. Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr. transferred from Eastern Washington. The Ducks jumped out to an early 13-0 lead. EWU would score to make it 13-7. Oregon made it 20-7 by the end of the first. The teams traded two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Ducks kicked a field goal as time expired to make it 37-21 at halftime. Oregon outscored them 17-14 in the third quarter as well. Each team added a touchdown in the fourth to make the final 61-42.
Oregon racked up 731 total yards including 495 rushing yards. Eastern Washington had 549 total yards including 438 passing yards. The two teams combined for 65 first downs. Oregon had 8 penalties for 70 yards and EWU had 11 for 78 yards. The Eagles had two turnovers and the Ducks had one.
Adams completed 19 of 25 passes for 246 yards with 2 touchdowns, and rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries. Adams suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter but is listed as probable. He also suffered a finger injury on his throwing hand, but the finger is not broken. He has been wearing a splint all week. Running back Royce Freeman had 21 carries for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns, and also had 2 catches for 18 yards. Kani Benoit had 11 carries for 83 yards with a touchdown, plus a catch for 19 yards. Tony Brooks-James had 6 carries for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns. Taj Griffin had 3 carries for 60 yards. Receiver Dwayne Stanford had 3 catches for 90 yards. Byron Marshall had 4 catches for 69 yards with a touchdown. Bralon Addison had 3 catches for 24 yards and a touchdown.
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Michigan State was a 16.5 point favorite against Western Michigan and the total was 55. The Spartans would take a 7-0 lead, but Western Michigan would return the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Michigan State would take a 20-7 lead at the end of the first. The Spartans would expand the lead to 27-7 in the second quarter. WMU would kick a field goal late in the second to make it 27-10 at halftime. The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. The Broncos pulled to within 34-24 in the fourth quarter, but would get no closer. The Spartans kicked a field goal to make the final 37-24.
Michigan State had 452 total yards including 196 rushing yards. Western Michigan had 383 total yards including 365 passing. The Spartans had 26 first downs to 22 for the Broncos. WMU had one turnover and MSU had 2. The Spartans need to shore up the return defense because WMU averaged just under 42 yards per kick return last week. That isn’t good with the speedy Ducks coming to town.
MSU quarterback Connor Cook completed 15 of 31 passes for 256 yards with 2 touchdowns. L.J. Scott had 13 carries for 77 yards. Madre London had 13 catches for 59 yards and 2 touchdowns. Gerald Holmes had 9 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Aaron Burbridge had 4 catches for 117 yards. Josiah Price had 3 catches for 49 yards and 2 touchdowns. DeAnthony Arnett had 2 catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Oregon is 9-2 ATS overall, 4-1 after allowing more than 280 passing yards, 21-7 after scoring more than 40 points, 20-7 on grass, 22-8 after a straight up win, 19-7 after allowing more than 450 yards, and in road games, 20-8 against teams with winning records, 9-4 after allowing 40 points or more, and 43-21-3 after rushing for more than 200 yards.
Michigan State is 4-0 ATS against teams with winning records, 6-1 after an ATS loss, 5-1 after a win, 10-2 after gaining more than 450 total yards, 4-1 on grass, 7-2 at home, 6-2-1 in non-conference games, 18-7-1 overall and 1-5 against Pac 12 teams.
Both teams struggled on defense last week, and this could be a high scoring game with two explosive offenses. Oregon gave up 438 passing yards to Eastern Washington, and Cook has to be salivating at the prospect of facing that secondary. I like the Spartans in a shootout.
