Two struggling teams are getting set to meet up in East Lansing for what should be one of the more evenly-matched conference games of Week 6. Saturday’s Michigan State vs Illinois game might not be “must-see TV” by any means, but this is a perfect opportunity for both sides to get back on track.
Michigan State has now lost three straight games after a 2-0 start, falling 31-3 to Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon which followed up an 18-point home loss to Nebraska a week earlier. That proceeded a 17-point road loss to the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish as it’s felt like Michigan State has gotten worse each of the past three weeks somehow.
Pat Fitzgerald knows that the program is falling short of expectations and he’s committed to turning things around, but he’ll have to do so as a home underdog in Week 6.
Being a home underdog is nothing new because the Spartans assumed that role against Nebraska two weeks ago but it’s more embarrassing this time around considering Illinois is struggling nearly as much as Michigan State, if not more. The Illini just fired their defensive coordinator after losing 42-19 to Ohio State in Week 4 and they proceeded to drop a game to the Big Ten’s worst team, Purdue, 24-17 at home.
Despite losing at home to Purdue, Illinois is a road favorite against Michigan State.
Opening odds for Michigan State vs Illinois are surprising
The state of despair that the Michigan State football program is in is obvious thanks to Vegas.
Note: Odds via DraftKings as of Monday, Oct. 5.
Line: Illinois -2.5
Over/Under: 49.5
Moneyline: Michigan State +120 | Illinois -142
It’s somewhat surprising to see Michigan State enter a homecoming game against a fellow 2-3 team that’s coming off a home loss to the worst team in the Big Ten as an underdog. Illinois isn’t a bad team, but the Illini are struggling just as much as Michigan State right now but the only difference is that Michigan State actually held its own against a top-five team on the road.
Vegas doesn’t like Michigan State’s chances which is just a sign of the times sadly.
The only way to go is up for Michigan State
Being home underdogs against a fellow 0-2 Big Ten team is unacceptable at this point in the Fitzgerald era, but it’s what fans have come to expect from Spartan football over the past 4-5 years.
The good news? There’s no way to go but up from here.
Michigan State has one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten and the defense finds a way to get worse every single week which is disappointing for the Joe Rossi believers (if you’re still out there) but improvement would mean just being “average” for the rest of the year. It may not be likely with the amount of injuries that the Spartans have suffered, but it shouldn’t be impossible.
This isn’t rock-bottom, but home dogs against a 2-3 team coming off a loss to Purdue five games into the Fitzgerald era isn’t what anyone expected.
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