Celebrity guest picker, New York Giants running back Sequon Barkley projects the Miami Hurricanes to defeat Michigan State convincingly with top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit also expecting them to win. Desmond Howard and Lee Corso both pick the Spartans as their Superdog.
Miami opened as a six-point favorite early in the week. The game has since been bet up to 6.5 and now seven points according to Wynn Bet. The GameDay crew was picking against the 6.5 point spread. Miami enters the game 0-2 against the spread in 2021. Michigan State is 1-0-1 ATS in 2021.
The Spartans were a three-point underdog in a 38-21 victory in the season opener against Northwestern. Michigan State defeated Youngstown State last week 42-14 as a 28 point favorite. Miami lost 44-13 to Alabama as a 19.5 point underdog and defeated Appalachian State 25-23 as a 7.5 point favorite.
The under has come in for both Miami Hurricanes games in 2021. Alabama and Miami had an over/under of 61.5. Appalachian State and Miami had an over/under of 55. The Miami Michigan State over/under was 57.5 at gametime. Miami has been uneven offensively through its first two games of 2021.
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— . (@4feldman) September 18, 2021
Miami was ranked 111th nationally averaging an anemic 19 points per game through the first two weeks of the season. Michigan State is 25th averaging 40 points per game. The competition for the Hurricanes and Spartans has been vastly different to begin the season. Miami is a step up in competition for Michigan State.
The Spartans should be the second-best team Miami plays in their non-conference schedule obviously behind Alabama. Miami will be a huge favorite next week against Central Connecticut State and should be favored when Virginia comes to Hard Rock Stadium on September 30. A bye week follows the Cavaliers.
Miami will likely be an underdog when they play their first true road game of the 2021 season at North Carolina on October 16. The ESPN Football Power Index projects Miami as a favorite in every game this season except at North Carolina and Pittsburgh on October 30th. Miami has to win the games they are favored.