Western Michigan at Michigan State (-7) - (Big Ten, 3:30 p.m. ET)

 WMU – After losing head coach PJ Fleck, starting QB Zach Terrell, and WR Corey Davis, there were some questions for the Broncos heading into this season after a near perfect 12-1 year in 2016. They answered those questions with a fantastic effort at USC. The Trojans (-29) won 48-31 but the game was much closer than the final score might indicate. In nearly 100 degree heat, USC led just 35-31 with under 4:00 minutes remaining in the game. The Trojans final two scores were on a 52 yard run and a 37 yard pick six just 36 seconds apart. While the Broncos passing game struggled with new QB Jon Wassink at the helm (just 67 yards passing) their rushing attack was dominant with 263 yards facing a talented USC front seven. We’ll find out more about this team on Saturday when they face an MSU defense that allowed only 67 rushing vs Bowling Green last Saturday. Can they put in another top notch performance on the road after last week’s disappointment? Will the physical toll of playing USC in brutal heat play a factor this week? These two met in 2015 with Sparty tabbed as a 16.5 point favorite. MSU won 37-24.

Michigan State – Sparty bounced back nicely in their season opener after last year’s disappointing 3-9 season. Just a season removed from their appearance in College Football’s Final 4, MSU won only 1 Big Ten game in 2016. Last week they rolled over Bowling Green 35-10 holding the Falcons to just 9 first downs. It could have been much worse as BG’s only TD came on a MSU fumble in the endzone and the Spartans also coughed it up at the Falcon 1-yard line going in to score. QB was a major issue for Michigan State last season. If last week is any indication they should be in much better hands this season. Starter Brian Lewerke threw for 250 yards and 3 TD’s last week to go along with his 69 yards rushing. Despite rushing for 215 yards last week, the MSU running game is still a bit of a concern. It took them 46 attempts to get to that 215 number (4.7 YPC) and their leading rusher for the game was their QB. That was against a defense that allowed 191 YPG a year ago. Their starting tailback, LJ Scott, had only 39 yards on 15 carries. This week they face a potentially tired WMU defense that allowed 232 yards rushing at USC last Saturday. Our database shows that MSU has played a team from the MAC 21 times since 1997. The oddsmakers starting setting lines for MAC teams in 1998 and since then this is the lowest number for MSU vs the MAC. In fact, this is the only time they’ve been a single digit favorite vs the MAC.