Sportsbooks Fade A Michigan State First Quarter TD Vs. Wolverines

• The Michigan State Spartans have (-125) odds to have UNDER 3.5 first-quarter points.
• The Michigan Wolverines allow just 1.9 first-quarter points per game.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines will take on their in-state rival, the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday. Sportsbooks are expecting the Spartans offense to get off to a cold start.

Michigan State’s First Quarter Offense

The Michigan State Spartans have gotten off to quick starts in a handful of their games this season. They average 8.2 points per first quarter which ranks 26th in the country. This may make it interesting as to why legal sports betting sites have their total set at 3.5 points against the Michigan Wolverines.

The Spartans have hit this total in five of their seven games, but have done so against bad defenses.

They’ve only played a top 50 first-quarter scoring defense once, Northwestern, and were held scoreless in the opening quarter. They’ll be facing the sixth-best first-quarter defense on Saturday.

Michigan’s Elite First Quarter Defense

Michigan allows just 1.9 points per first quarter on the season and has only allowed more than three points one time.

However, the team in which they allowed a touchdown, Western Michigan, is also the only team ranked in the top 50 for first-quarter points scored they’ve faced.

Those betting on college football may have a hard time finding a side in this spot as neither team has succeeded when faced against a team with an opposing strength.

The deciding factor may be the fact that both teams like to run the ball. Michigan State has the running back with the shortest odds to win the Heisman, Kenneth Walker III, while Michigan averages nearly 70 more rushing yards than passing yards per game.

With both teams looking to establish the running game, the clock will be moving which will result in fewer possessions for both teams. The UNDER has shading for a reason as it’s likely the more probable outcome.

The game can be seen on FOX at 12 p.m. EST on Saturday.

News tags: Big Ten | College Football | Michigan State Spartans | Michigan Wolverines