Michigan-Michigan State Betting Odds

As we get into the Purdue-Michigan State betting odds breakdown, the most important thing to note here is that the Spartans are coming off what was inarguably the best week that anyone has had this college football season.

Not only did Michigan State beat Michigan, not only did they do it by coming back from 16 points down in the second half, but that win — that performance — propelled them into the top four of the college football playoff rankings and it shot superstar running back Kenneth Walker III into the top spot on most theoretical Heisman ballots at this point in the season.

That is the highest of highs that you can be during a college football season.

What we are going to find out now is whether or not the Spartans are built to be able to withstand the pressure.

They are the targeted. They are the favorite to win the Big Ten. They are the team that everyone is going to be gunning for the rest of the season. How will they respond? How will they handle the pressure and the attention?

Longtime college sports writer Rob Dauster, the co-founder of The Field of 68 and The Field of 12 Network is here to break down the tantalizing matchup and provide the Purdue-Michigan State betting odds for Week 10 of the college football season.

Until then, as a NCAA fan, you can check NFL betting odds and get ready to place a bet at BetRivers.

WEEK 10 BETTING ODDS: WEEKEND GUIDE

PURDUE-MICHIGAN STATE BETTING ODDS:

No. 3 MICHIGAN STATE (8-0) at PURDUE (5-3)
GAME: 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
MONEYLINE: Michigan State (-162), Purdue (+130)
SPREAD: Michigan State (-3)
TOTAL: 53.5

PURDUE-MICHIGAN STATE PREDICTION:

Purdue is no stranger to pulling off upsets.

Just three weeks ago, the Boilermakers put an end to any hope that Iowa had of playing their way into the college football playoff when they beat up on the Hawkeyes behind a ridiculous 11-catch, 240-yard performance from David Bell. The problem? The very next week, Purdue allowed 290 yards on the ground to a Wisconsin team that, while good, has not been nearly as good as Michigan State and Kenneth Walker III.

And while this game is being played in West Lafayette, that, to me, is going to end up being the difference here.

This is the quintessential let-down spot.

A road game against an unranked-but-good opponent just seven days after arguably the biggest win of the season. Mel Tucker is going to have his hands full making sure that his Spartans understand that they haven’t actually done anything yet. Getting in the CFB Playoff rankings is meaningless. Getting in the playoff itself is what matters, and that won’t happen for another month. It won’t happen at all if Sparty doesn’t show up in games like this.

So, yes, this is going to end up being a test.

And I understand why the line is only three points. It took something of a miracle comeback to get the Spartans to this point in the first place.

The only other thing that I think I need to note here is that Michigan State struggles defending the pass, and Purdue can really move the ball through the air. If they pull off the upset, that is going to be how they do it.

But for my money, this more likely means that Purdue is going to be able to put up points to keep pace with Michigan State as opposed to being able to pull off the upset. So while I do like Sparty here, my gut is telling me that the over is in play as well.