The Michigan State Spartans are expected to look like a different team on Saturday, and the spread has already moved through a key number because of it.
Action Network's college football insider Brett McMurphy is reporting Michigan State has been hit by the flu bug and rash of injuries, which could leave it without up to 20 players, including six to eight starters for Saturday's game against Penn State.
Michigan State has been hit by flu bug & rash of injuries & may be w/out up to 20 players, including possibly 6-8 starters against Penn State Saturday, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 26, 2021
The spread in this game opened as Penn State -0.5 and slowly moved throughout the week to Penn State -2. Since McMurphy reported the news on Twitter on Friday afternoon, the spread has moved at least a point on most sportsbooks and is already up to -4 on SugarHouse (BetRivers and Barstool).
The total has seen much more fluctuation throughout the week. It opened at 52.5, dropped to 51 and then rose back to 52.5. It has started to drop again after McMurphy reported the news.
The Spartans are in the midst of a dream season in which they are 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. They've spent a good portion of the season in the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings.
After getting embarrassed by the Ohio State Buckeyes 56-7 last week, the Spartans dropped out of the top 10 and currently sit at No. 12 in the rankings.
Penn State, on the other hand, has had more of an up-and-down season. The season got off to a rousing start with a win on the road at Wisconsin and at home against Auburn. Since then, the Nittany Lions have not been able to win their big games and hold a 7-4 record.
