Michigan State (0-0) vs Florida Atlantic (0-0)
Game Info: Friday, August 30, 2024 at 7:00 pm (Spartan Stadium)
Betting Odds: Michigan State -14 / Florida Atlantic +14 --- Over/Under: 45 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The FAU Owls and the Michigan State Spartans meet in week 1 college football action from Spartan Stadium on Friday night. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an FAU vs. Michigan State prediction.
FAU Team Preview
The FAU Owls will try to take a step in the right direction in year two of the Tom Herman era in Boca Raton after finishing the 2023 season with a 4-8 record including a 3-5 mark in AAC conference play. Cam Fancher leads a new-look FAU offense after transferring over from Marshall following a 2023 campaign where he threw for 2,162 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while also rushing for 273 yards. Zuberi Mobley is the top returning running back, but don’t be surprised if Florida State transfer CJ Campbell eventually becomes the RB1 for the Owls.
BJ Alexander is the top returning receiver for FAU, but the Owls bring in some transfers in the receiving corps as well in Marlyn Johnson and Milan Tucker from Buffalo and App State respectively. On defense, Marlon Bradley is hoping for a clean bill of health to lead the d-line alongside Purdue transfer Prince Boyd, while Jackson Ambush is back after leading the Owls with 89 tackles at linebacker last season. Phillip Dunnam and Kahzir Brown transfer in from Indiana and Maine respectively to add depth to a relatively inexperienced FAU secondary.
Why the Florida Atlantic Owls will win
- Michigan State has lost eight of its last 10 games.
- Florida Atlantic has won three of its last four season openers.
- Florida Atlantic has covered the spread in each of its last four games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference.
- Michigan State has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State Team Preview
The Michigan State Spartans come in with a new voice leading the charge in East Lansing, with Jonathan Smith coming over from Oregon State to lead the Spartans after leading the Beavers to three straight winning seasons and three straight bowl games for the first time in the program since Mike Riley did it back in 2006-09. Aidan Chiles comes with his coach from Corvallis to lead QB duties for the Spartans and he will have some solid receivers at his disposal. Montorie Foster led MSU with 43 grabs and 576 receiving yards last year while Jaron Glover averaged 18.6 yards per reception and Jack Veiling also comes over from Oregon State at tight end.
The Spartans will also have some great running backs in Nate Carter who had 798 rushing yards and 4 TDs last year and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams comes over from UMass after rushing for 1,157 yards and 12 TDs for the Minutemen last year. On defense, the front seven lost a ton of talent, but the transfer portal brings in some pieces like Jordan Turner and Wayne Matthews from Wisconsin and Old Dominion at linebacker while Quandaries Dunnigan, D’Quan Douse and Ben Roberts come in from Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Oregon to help in the trenches. Malik Spencer will be the leader of the Spartan secondary after Jaden Mangham transferred in state to rival Michigan.
Why the Michigan State Spartans will win
- Florida Atlantic has lost 20 of its last 21 road games against non-conference opponents.
- Michigan State has won six of its last seven games against non-conference opponents at Spartan Stadium.
- Florida Atlantic has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games.
- Michigan State has covered the spread in five of its last six games against non-conference opponents at Spartan Stadium.
FAU vs. Michigan State Prediction
I’m looking at Michigan State here. These are going to be two new-look teams in 2024, but the thing for me is that I think Michigan State has a clear edge in incoming talent. Jonathan Smith, this is what he does. Comes in, takes a program that’s been in a rough spot before he enters and turns them around. He did it in Oregon State and now I think he does it in East Lansing. He’s brought a lot of talented pieces with him, and I think there’s just a lot more to like about where Michigan State is at. FAU just doesn’t get the top-tier names that a lot of other Florida programs do, and while Tom Herman’s a solid coach, I think his squad is up against it here. Give me Michigan State.
Chris’s Pick Michigan State -14
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
Mitch's Take...
