Washington State Cougars vs. Michigan State Spartans San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl Pick

By Keith F

Date: 28/12/2017 9:00 pm

Location: SDCCU Stadium

TV: ESPN

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Washington State - 2.5

Total: 45

The San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl will bring us yet another collision of B1G and Pac 12 constituents. The grouping this year will feature a clash between the Washington State Cougars (9-3) and the Michigan State Spartans (9-3). The affair will be televised on Thursday, December 28th for national audiences on ESPN with a scheduled kick-off time of 9:00 PM ET. The game will come live from SDCCU Stadium. These two teams have never met previously.

Washington State Cougars vs. Michigan State Spartans Overview

The story behind both these teams is overachievement. The Washington State Cougars found itself as high as #8 in the polls this season after it handed USC its first loss of the 2017 campaign in Pullman. With Coach Mike Leach at the helm with a vaunted air raid offense, the Cougars seemed to be in position to play in games of larger consequence. However, two shocking blowout losses at California and Arizona changed all that. The Cougars would end their season with a blow-out loss in the Apple Cup against Washington. For the Fighting D’Antonios, Sparty was suggested by some to not even make a bowl game as six was considered a lofty number in the wins department for this team according to pre-season predictions. Needless to say, Michigan State shattered expectations.

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Michigan vs Michigan State NCAAF Betting Trends

Both teams are 7-5 ATS on the year.
Over is 5-1 ATS in the last six bowl games involving Michigan State.
Michigan State is 4-0 ATS in their previous four bowl games.
Washington State is 3-3 SU in their last six outings.

Public Money

The public has gravitated immensely toward the dog in this contest, 68% of the cash and 74 % of the tickets are with Sparty in this market. The price has moved by two points downward since its open to reinforce this principle. In the Over/Under, the figure has risen by just half of a point to its current station of 45, reflecting action on the Over. 100% of the public cash has been cashed on the Over to confirm this preposition.

Washington State Cougars vs. Michigan State Spartans Prediction

Whenever we see the public smother a dog, we have said it before and we will say it again, we have to take a closer look. The market reactions simply boil down to Michigan State’s overachievement this season and the good form they have entered in. The Cougars seem like a risky option be that all of their three losses were blowouts and thus many fear getting buried by an underperforming Washington State outfit. However, Washington State has not had a ten-win season in 14 years. There is plenty of motivation here for the Cougars to show up and reach a benchmark they have not met in a decade. Thus, we will take advantage of a short-priced dog set up for a huge performance. Swallow the points.

Free Pick: Take Washington State -2.5