Saunders
Heisman Trophy Winner
2021 Game 5 “Expert” Picks: Nebraska @ Michigan State (-5)
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CollegeFootballNews.com
Why Nebraska Will Win
Really … has Michigan State beaten anyone who’s any good? It’s an underground hipster theory about Alabama’s win over Miami to start the season – Miami might not be any good. Bama is obviously amazing, but it might not be Alabama like everyone thinks it is, at least based off that win. Michigan State beat the Canes. It also beat a bad Northwestern team and Youngstown State … oooooooh. The Huskers aren’t playing all that poorly. The Illinois game looks more and more like a loss that would’ve been avoided if the Fordham game came first to work out some of the kinks, and the 23-16 loss at Oklahoma might have been – relatively speaking – among the best games yet under Scott Frost.
Why Michigan State Will Win
The balance on the Spartan offense has been almost perfect – 791 rushing yards, 769 yards through the air. It’s finding ways to move the ball as needed, it worked out the passing game timing against Youngstown State, and it’s been able to run well in all three games so far. The O has been better than expected, and the defense has been a rock so far against the run. Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez is throwing well, and he leads the way in rushing, but the MSU D will take its chances with the ball in the air. As long as Martinez isn’t hitting the big home run with his legs, the Spartans should be okay.
What’s Going To Happen
Nebraska is playing better overall lately, but Michigan State is just too sharp, too balanced, and playing with too much confidence in all phases. Like the Oklahoma game, the Huskers will hang around and make it competitive, but they’ll come up just short when the chances are there to take over the momentum. Michigan State won’t exactly break it open late, but they’ll get the big fourth quarter drive to put it away.
MSU 34 - Nebraska 20
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ESPN FPI
MSU - 73.4%
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DRatings
MSU 28 - Nebraska 24
MSU - 62.7%
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ESPN Bill Connelly SP+
MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
MSU - 55%
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AP - Ralph Russo
That bad loss in the opener at Illinois might be obscuring some real improvement by the Huskers
MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
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Sporting News
The Spartans continue to roll with Kenneth Walker III and a punishing rushing attack, and Nebraska is coming off another emotional loss against Oklahoma. The Huskers are 9-2 all time against the Spartans, but we're trusting the better team.
MSU 30 - Nebraska 20
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Big Red Wrap-Up
Mike’l Severe: Nebraska 27 - MSU 23
Jay Moore: Nebraska 24 - MSU 20
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CBS Sports
Dennis Dodd: MSU
Tom Fornelli: MSU
Chip Patterson: N
Barrett Sallee: MSU*
David Cobb: MSU
Shehan Jeyarajah: MSU
Jerry Palm: MSU
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USA Today
Jace Evans: MSU
Paul Myerberg: N
Eddie Timanus: MSU
Erick Smith: MSU
Heather Tucker: MSU
Scooby Axson: MSU
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Dallas Morning News
Scott Bell: N
Chuck Carlton: MSU
Corby Davidson: N
Josephy Hoyt: MSU
Ric Renner: MSU
Selby Lopez: MSU
Kevin Sherrington: MSU
Brett Vito: MSU
New Scruggs: MSU
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Athlon Sports
Kevin McGuire: MSU
Steven Lassan: MSU
Ben Weinrib: MSU
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247 Sports - Spartan Nation
I think this is going to be a battle. I do. I think this one's going to be a big one, but I am not a person that looks down on Scott Frost. I know things are difficult, I know it's not gone as smoothly as everyone wants, but I think you saw a lot from them with that Oklahoma fight and with the absolute best environment and college football being what Nebraska is. I think at the end of the day on a last-second field goal, the Huskers win.
Nebraska 20 - MSU 17
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Lincoln Journal Star
Chris Basnett: MSU 23 - Nebraska 22
Parker Gabriel: Nebraska 23 - MSU 21
Clark Grell: MSU 30 - Nebraska 23
Nate Head: MSU 24 - Nebraska 20
Steven M Sipple: MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
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Lansing State Journal
Las Vegas had the wrong underdog in MSU’s first two matchups against power-five conference programs. I think Vegas has it right in this one, with MSU a five-point favorite over the Huskers. It’s not that Nebraska can’t cause MSU some problems. But if you’ve watched these teams play through the first few weeks of the season, and trust your eyes, there’s no way you’re picking Nebraska. The Spartans have been balanced, dynamic, disciplined and dangerous offensively. The Huskers have lacked that discipline and efficiency. If these two teams are who they’ve been, the Spartans should win.
MSU 31 - Nebraska 21
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Husker Extra
This line started at a field goal and moved up quickly to five. What do the sharps know? I think I like Nebraska here in a close win, for once. Tough MSU crowd to deal with though.
Nebraska 24 - MSU 21
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CollegeFootballNews.com
Why Nebraska Will Win
Really … has Michigan State beaten anyone who’s any good? It’s an underground hipster theory about Alabama’s win over Miami to start the season – Miami might not be any good. Bama is obviously amazing, but it might not be Alabama like everyone thinks it is, at least based off that win. Michigan State beat the Canes. It also beat a bad Northwestern team and Youngstown State … oooooooh. The Huskers aren’t playing all that poorly. The Illinois game looks more and more like a loss that would’ve been avoided if the Fordham game came first to work out some of the kinks, and the 23-16 loss at Oklahoma might have been – relatively speaking – among the best games yet under Scott Frost.
Why Michigan State Will Win
The balance on the Spartan offense has been almost perfect – 791 rushing yards, 769 yards through the air. It’s finding ways to move the ball as needed, it worked out the passing game timing against Youngstown State, and it’s been able to run well in all three games so far. The O has been better than expected, and the defense has been a rock so far against the run. Nebraska’s Adrian Martinez is throwing well, and he leads the way in rushing, but the MSU D will take its chances with the ball in the air. As long as Martinez isn’t hitting the big home run with his legs, the Spartans should be okay.
What’s Going To Happen
Nebraska is playing better overall lately, but Michigan State is just too sharp, too balanced, and playing with too much confidence in all phases. Like the Oklahoma game, the Huskers will hang around and make it competitive, but they’ll come up just short when the chances are there to take over the momentum. Michigan State won’t exactly break it open late, but they’ll get the big fourth quarter drive to put it away.
MSU 34 - Nebraska 20
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ESPN FPI
MSU - 73.4%
—————
DRatings
MSU 28 - Nebraska 24
MSU - 62.7%
—————
ESPN Bill Connelly SP+
MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
MSU - 55%
—————
AP - Ralph Russo
That bad loss in the opener at Illinois might be obscuring some real improvement by the Huskers
MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
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Sporting News
The Spartans continue to roll with Kenneth Walker III and a punishing rushing attack, and Nebraska is coming off another emotional loss against Oklahoma. The Huskers are 9-2 all time against the Spartans, but we're trusting the better team.
MSU 30 - Nebraska 20
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Big Red Wrap-Up
Mike’l Severe: Nebraska 27 - MSU 23
Jay Moore: Nebraska 24 - MSU 20
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CBS Sports
Dennis Dodd: MSU
Tom Fornelli: MSU
Chip Patterson: N
Barrett Sallee: MSU*
David Cobb: MSU
Shehan Jeyarajah: MSU
Jerry Palm: MSU
—————
USA Today
Jace Evans: MSU
Paul Myerberg: N
Eddie Timanus: MSU
Erick Smith: MSU
Heather Tucker: MSU
Scooby Axson: MSU
—————
Dallas Morning News
Scott Bell: N
Chuck Carlton: MSU
Corby Davidson: N
Josephy Hoyt: MSU
Ric Renner: MSU
Selby Lopez: MSU
Kevin Sherrington: MSU
Brett Vito: MSU
New Scruggs: MSU
—————
Athlon Sports
Kevin McGuire: MSU
Steven Lassan: MSU
Ben Weinrib: MSU
—————
247 Sports - Spartan Nation
I think this is going to be a battle. I do. I think this one's going to be a big one, but I am not a person that looks down on Scott Frost. I know things are difficult, I know it's not gone as smoothly as everyone wants, but I think you saw a lot from them with that Oklahoma fight and with the absolute best environment and college football being what Nebraska is. I think at the end of the day on a last-second field goal, the Huskers win.
Nebraska 20 - MSU 17
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Lincoln Journal Star
Chris Basnett: MSU 23 - Nebraska 22
Parker Gabriel: Nebraska 23 - MSU 21
Clark Grell: MSU 30 - Nebraska 23
Nate Head: MSU 24 - Nebraska 20
Steven M Sipple: MSU 27 - Nebraska 24
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Lansing State Journal
Las Vegas had the wrong underdog in MSU’s first two matchups against power-five conference programs. I think Vegas has it right in this one, with MSU a five-point favorite over the Huskers. It’s not that Nebraska can’t cause MSU some problems. But if you’ve watched these teams play through the first few weeks of the season, and trust your eyes, there’s no way you’re picking Nebraska. The Spartans have been balanced, dynamic, disciplined and dangerous offensively. The Huskers have lacked that discipline and efficiency. If these two teams are who they’ve been, the Spartans should win.
MSU 31 - Nebraska 21
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Husker Extra
This line started at a field goal and moved up quickly to five. What do the sharps know? I think I like Nebraska here in a close win, for once. Tough MSU crowd to deal with though.
Nebraska 24 - MSU 21
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