Usually my first look is backing a Big Ten Conference team against a mediocre American Athletic Conference opponent, which is what we have here. However, Michigan State is not a good Big Ten team. The Spartans were 4-8 last season, 2-7 in the Big Ten.

Florida Atlantic is rebuilding in Tom Herman's second season. The Owls, though, have a respectable defense ranking 59th in scoring defense and 64th in run defense last season. The Owls should be improved this season returning eight defensive starters.

The key takeaway is that Michigan State isn't very good offensively. In fact, Michigan State's offense is downright horrible. The Spartans ranked 121st in offensive success rate, 128th in total yards and 131st in scoring averaging a meager 15.9 points a game in 2023. Sophomore QB Aiden Chiles is set to make his first college start for the Spartans.

Florida Atlantic's offense wasn't that much better statistically than Michigan State's. But the Owls upgraded their roster through the transfer portal bringing in QB Cam Fancher from Marshall, where he accounted for 15 TD's last season.