Western Michigan at Michigan State Prediction for Week 1
Odds, best bets and analysis for this college football matchup
Matthew Horner - Sep 2, 2022, 1:02pm EDTWestern Michigan Broncos
Don't underestimate the Broncos this season, as they are poised to be one a very dangerous team. The 12th-ranked offense in the country last season gets back the great rushing duo of Sean Tyler and La’Darius Jefferson, and they will run rampant all season long against opposing defenses. The biggest question mark will be their passing attack, as they lost QB Kaleb Eleby and WR Skyy Moore.
Michigan State has done everything in their power to improve that absolutely atrocious pass defense that was as one of the worst in the nation in 2021. It may still not be enough. This isn't the same Western Michigan of last year that had a shootout with Kenny Pickett and Pittsburgh, but they certainly can test just how improved this Spartans secondary has become.
The Broncos defense was also among college football's elite when it comes to getting in the backfield. They have a ferocious pass rush that should be able to get enough pressure on the Michigan State offense to throw them out of rhythm at times.
Michigan State Spartans
The secondary was a huge problem for the Spartans last year, but one of their biggest strengths was their ability to pound their opponents on the ground. For how well Western Michigan gets to the QB, they don't do that great of a job stopping the run. That will be a big problem. Kenneth Walker might be gone, but the combination of new transfers Jarek Broussard and Jalen Berger should be able to keep that same type of ground and pound momentum going. QB Payton Thorne and WR Jayden Reed should be able to do just enough through the air against an unproven Broncos secondary to keep things unpredictable.
The defensive line of the Spartans is good, and they should be able to slow down the Western Michigan running game, and the secondary hopefully has made the improvements necessary to be competitive. They have a lot to prove this season on that side of the ball, but they should have enough to have a pretty good season in the Big Ten.
Western Michigan at Michigan State Prediction
This is just far too many points in my opinion to be laying against a pretty good team in Western Michigan. The Spartans need to be very carful here, as the Broncos have the talent and ability to win against most teams in college football when they are on. Their biggest problem continues to be inconsistent play.
The Spartans will have another good season, but they have enough problems to where they could be exposed by a good team. I expect Michigan State to win, but this is far too many points. Give me Western Michigan to cover the spread.