Michigan State Spartans vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Michigan State Spartans vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights November 30th 2024

FS1 is set to broadcast the week 14 matchup between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Michigan State Spartans, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 ET at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing (MI). The Spartans enter the game as the slight -1.5-point favorites on the road. The over/under line is currently at 47.5 points. Both teams are looking to finish their seasons with a .500 record, as Rutgers is 6-5 and Michigan State is 5-6.

Rutgers vs. Michigan State Key Information

Rutgers enters Week 14 with a 6-5 record, but they have a 0.0% chance of winning the Big Ten. However, they are guaranteed to be bowl-eligible. The Scarlet Knights are 2-2 on the road and 3-3 at home this season.

Against the spread, Rutgers is 5-4-1, with a 2-1-1 record on the road and a 3-3 mark at home. They’ve gone 2-3 ATS as the favorite and 3-1-1 as the underdog, with an average scoring margin of +2 points per game.

The over/under record for Rutgers games is 7-3, with an average total of 51.5 points. Their average over/under line is 46.1 points, and this week’s line is set at 47.5 points.

Heading into week 14, Rutgers’ offense is averaging 26.7 points per game, placing them 62nd in college football. However, they rank 41st in our offensive power rankings. Their rushing attack is the focal point, with 39 attempts per game, averaging 175.5 yards on the ground.

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Kyle Monangai leads the rushing game with 1,150 yards, 12 touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown for 2,302 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, holding a passer rating of 83. Rutgers ranks 82nd in passing yards per game.

Rutgers’ defense has allowed 24.7 points per game this season, including 38 points in their recent loss to Illinois. They gave up 431 total yards, with 182 rushing yards on 36 attempts and 249 passing yards.

Opponents are averaging 241.7 passing yards per game against Rutgers, completing 60.7% of their passes. On the ground, Rutgers has faced the 19th fewest rushing attempts nationally, allowing 153 rushing yards per game.

Michigan State enters Week 14 with a 5-6 record, facing Rutgers at home. They are ranked 75th in our power rankings and have a 45% chance of becoming bowl-eligible. The Spartans are 3-2 at home this season.

They’ve been favored in just two games this season, going 2-0 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is -4.9 points, and they are 4-6 against the spread, with a 1-4 home ATS record.

Their over/under record is 5-5, with an average line of 46.2 points. This week’s line is set at 47.5 points, and their games have averaged 44.5 points per contest.

Michigan State’s offense has struggled this season, averaging just 19.8 points per game, which ranks 93rd nationally. They are 75th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 14. Their third-down conversion rate is 38.6%, and their rushing game has been lacking, averaging 118.9 yards per game.

Quarterback Aidan Chiles has thrown for 2,265 yards, but has 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 79. Michigan State is 58th in passing attempts, averaging 30 per game. Leading receiver Nick Marsh has 636 yards and three touchdowns.

Michigan State’s defense heads into this week’s matchup allowing 24.7 points per game, ranking 52nd nationally. They’ve given up 211.5 passing yards per game, with opposing quarterbacks completing 60.6% of their throws and posting a 90.6 passer rating. Against the run, Michigan State is allowing 119.8 yards per game, ranking 37th in the country.

In their recent game against Purdue, Michigan State allowed just 17 points and limited Purdue to -4 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Purdue threw the ball 47 times, completing 26 passes for 342 yards, while Michigan State’s defense also came up with an interception.

We have Rutgers winning this week 14 matchup on the road vs. Michigan State by a score of 25-23. Even though they are just +1.5 point favorites, we like Rutgers to cover the spread and win straight-up.

With the over/under line sitting at 47.5 points, our projection of 48 points makes the over the best play for this matchup.

Motivated Michigan State Must Beat Rutgers to Go Bowling

Michigan State needs a win against Rutgers on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years.

“This is an important game for multiple reasons — our last home game, the last home game for some of our seniors, the opportunity to keep this group together for … another month if you can have success this Saturday,” said first-year Spartans coach Jonathan Smith. “All of that should add to their motivation.”

Spartans End Losing Streak

The Spartans (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend, holding on for a 24-17 win over Purdue to put them in a position for a postseason berth.

Aidan Chiles, who has passed for 2,265 yards and 12 touchdowns, has not thrown any interceptions in his last two starts after tossing 11 in his first nine games.

“A tremendous athlete,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said of Chiles. “Really, a quarterback that you can see is just getting better and better each week. We recruited him. We’re very familiar with him. We really wanted him. He ended up going to Oregon State and now he’s at Michigan State, but somebody that we really thought was an excellent player.”

Rutgers Seeks Strong Finish

The Scarlet Knights (6-5, 3-4) are trying to rebound from a crushing 38-31 loss to then-No. 25 Illinois. Rutgers gave up a 40-yard, game-winning touchdown pass with four seconds left.

Schiano expects to see the best from Michigan State.

“I think it’s a huge challenge going on the road, playing a team that’s certainly motivated with bowl aspirations but I don’t worry about the other team,” Schiano said. “I learn about the other team. We use it to educate ourselves, but our team has overcome adversity all season and they will overcome it again.”

Key Matchup: Running Game in Cold Weather

With game-time temperatures expected in the low 30s, the Scarlet Knights will likely need to rely on the run game led by Kyle Monangai, whose 122 rushing yards against Illinois gave him 1,150 for the season.

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High Stakes for Rutgers

A win Saturday would give Rutgers its best regular season finish since 2014.

“We’ve had a lot of things that can test your will, test your focus,” Schiano said. “I think our guys have done a very good job. Here’s another opportunity.”