BYU, Michigan State Schedule is Smooth Sailing for Next Several Weeks

If you had projected No. 15 BYU and No. 20 Michigan State to get off to 3-0 starts at the beginning of the 2021 season, I would happily enlist you to be my personal lottery ticket number-placer.

The Cougars were fresh off an 11-1 season with No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson at the helm. He was drafted by the New York Jets as several other key members moved on, but quarterback Jaren Hall has been solid taking his place.

The sophomore signal-caller has thrown for seven touchdowns through their first three games: all wins against Pac 12 opponents; two of them ranked in No. 21 Utah, as well as No. 19 Arizona State. BYU is currently +100000 to win a title at WynnBET.

Meanwhile, Michigan State has been an absolute force so far in 2021 after finishing 2-5 in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Mel Tucker in his second year brought in a ton of new talent through the transfer portal, including running back Kenneth Walker III who's rushed for 493 yards through three games, averaging 8.6 yards/carry and scoring five touchdowns.

Walker scored four of those touchdowns in their Big Ten opener in Week 1 on the road against a Northwestern team that only gave up five total rushing touchdowns the season before. Sparty has since gone on to beat Youngstown State at home, and upset No. 24 Miami on the road 38-17 in Week 3.

They currently are +10000 to win a national championship at WynnBET, and +5000 to win the Big Ten title game.

With both teams a combined 5-1-0 against the spread, knocking off what appeared to be mostly superior opponents along the way, the question is how much longer can both of these teams keep this pace going?

BYU Schedule

Following three straight matchups against Pac 12 opponents, the schedule gets very comfortable for BYU over the next several weeks. The Cougars' Week 4 game at home against South Florida has them as 23-point favorites. After that, it's a road night game vs. Utah State, followed by games against Boise State, at Baylor and at Washington State.

The Cougars as of now have no more games scheduled against AP Top 25 teams. They end their season at USC on Nov. 27, so if the Trojans can salvage their season following the firing of head coach Clay Helton, it's conceivable they may have at least one more matchup to boost their resume.

Michigan State Schedule

The Spartans save their two toughest games of the season for the very end, with road matchups against No. 10 Ohio State, followed by Senior Day on Nov. 27 at home against No. 6 Penn State. But until then, they only have one ranked matchup against an AP Top 25 team; a home matchup against No. 19 Michigan on Oct. 30.

The Spartans' next four games are all fairly winnable, facing off at home against Nebraska on Saturday as five-point favorites in East Lansing. From there, they get Western Kentucky at home, Rutgers on the road and Indiana at home.

Look for Michigan State to enter that home matchup against the Wolverines undefeated in the Big Ten at 4-0 by the end of November.

Think BYU or Michigan State has a shot to make a run this year as dark horse contenders? Jump on board over at WynnBET!