Michigan State tries to move on from Mel Tucker mess, hosts Maryland in Big Ten opener

Maryland (3-0, 0-0 Massive Ten) at Michigan State (2-1, 0-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)

Line: Maryland by 7 1/2 in keeping with FanDuel Sportsbook

Sequence report: Michigan State leads 10-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Michigan State desperately wants a win, days after the varsity informed suspended coach Mel Tucker it intends to fireside him and per week after getting routed by No. 8 Washington. Maryland has excessive hopes with a powerful begin, following eight- and seven-win seasons with a bowl victory in every of the final two years.

KEY MATCHUP

Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa towards Michigan State’s protection. The Spartans face one other high quality quarterback after being simply dealt with by Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., who threw for 473 yards and 4 touchdowns. Tagovailoa has accomplished 69% of his passes for a complete of 664 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in two video games towards Michigan State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Maryland: Tagovailoa is flourishing for a 3rd straight season. He backed up his brother, Tua, and Mac Jones as a freshman at Alabama in 2019. Tagovailoa is averaging practically 300 yards passing with 5 touchdowns and two interceptions this season.

Michigan State: QB Noah Kim. He has been OK in his first season as a starter and the reeling Spartans want him to be nice on Saturday to assist their possibilities of getting a much-needed win. Kim is 48 of 84 for 707 yards with 5 touchdowns and one interception.

FACTS & FIGURES

Maryland is coming off a 42-14 win over Virginia, beginning 3-0 for the third straight season underneath fifth-year coach Michael Locksley. … Harlon Barnett is in his second sport as interim coach, changing Tucker, who knowledgeable earlier this week that the varsity plans to fireside him for trigger and with out pay as a result of activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy’s allegations of sexual harassment. … The Terrapins have received their first three video games by 18-plus factors every for the primary time since 1948. … Michigan State gave up a school-record 713 yards final week in a 41-7 loss to the Huskies.

___ AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll