College Football Picks: Michigan State Spartans 2011-12 Season Preview and Betting Odds
College Football Picks previews the non-conference Big 10 Michigan State Spartans, who did not have a great finish to the 2010 college football season, being defeated 49-7 by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Capital One Bowl.
Although they faced a mismatch when they faced the best in the country, the Spartans’ regular season was stellar as they went 11-2 SU overall and 7-1 SU in the Big Ten conference and won a share of the Big Ten title. Have for the first time in 20 years.
In 2011, the Spartans have a great opportunity to top last year’s breakout season with a team that returns with 12 starters. Michigan State is currently ranked No. 17 in both the USA Today preseason poll and ESPNU’s preseason fan rankings.
The offense will be able to put up a lot of points by getting back six starters, including quarterback Kirk Cousins who had 2,825 passing yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Cousins has another year of experience under him and will look to control a high-scoring offense using his main targets in wide receivers BJ Cunningham, who had 50 receptions, 611 yards, nine touchdowns and last year, starting running back Edwin Baker, who had 207 carries, 1,201 yards, 14 TDs for the 2011 season.
The defense that was battered by some of the best teams it faced last season has six starters returning from last season, but it will lose a big chunk of that defense to All-American linebacker Greg Jones drafted by New York. Giants in the 2011 NFL Draft. and Eric Gordon, a second-team All-Big Ten selection.
Michigan State has some key pieces returning on both the secondary and defensive line, with returning defensive end Tyler Hoover and defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, and free safety Trenton Robinson and cornerback Johnny Adams in the secondary.
Michigan State, which finished the season ranked 14th in the nation, will once again be a factor in the Big Ten, which has a league where teams can beat each other this year on any Saturday. Defense will be a problem giving up a lot of points, though the Spartans have an offense that can keep up with any team in the league.
NCAA football odds have the Spartans at 10-1 to win the Big Ten championship, which is correct, but expect them to lose at least 2 games in this balanced Big 10 conference where it’s tough to win on the road. .