The Michigan State Spartans are a trendy pick to challenge Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten. Their defense should be among the nation's best once again, but it remains to be seen whether the Spartans' offense, which underachieved across the board last season, can take the next step. Michigan State gets its first test on Friday when it opens the season against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a 7 p.m. ET matchup at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans are favored by 23.5 points, up two from the opener, while the over-under is 47.5 in the latest Michigan State vs. Tulsa odds. Tulsa is expected to be a better team this year as well, with nearly all of its skill players and defensive standouts returning. With so much uncertainty heading into the 2019 opener, you'll want to see what veteran handicapper Mike Tierney is saying about the game before locking in any Michigan State vs. Tulsa picks of your own. 

No one knows football like Tierney. The veteran sportswriter, whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, has covered college football of all levels for decades. And that expertise has been evident since he joined SportsLine in 2017. Over the last two seasons, he has gone 96-79-4 on college football against the spread picks. Last season was his best at 59-46-3. In addition, he is 5-0 in his last five college football against the spread picks involving the Spartans. Anyone who has followed him has reaped huge rewards.

Now, he has analyzed Tulsa vs. Michigan State from every possible angle and locked in a confident against the spread pick. It's available only at SportsLine. 

Tierney has factored in that Michigan State finished a disappointing 7-6 last year but is expected to make a big leap this season. The offense, which underachieved in 2018, has nearly all its production and its entire offensive line back. It will be tough for the likes of Ohio State and Michigan to score against a Spartans defense that should be among the nation's elite units. Thus, it should be a considerable challenge for Tulsa to tally enough points, as long as the Spartans' offense finds the end zone against a Tulsa defense that allowed nearly 30 points per game last year. 

Tulsa has experience back but nearly none on the offensive line, which could be a major problem against Michigan State given it has one of the premier defensive fronts in the country. Tulsa has been blown out against tougher competition and has covered just one of its last five road games.

But just because the Spartans boast a smothering defense does not guarantee they will cover the Michigan State vs. Tulsa spread. 

Tulsa's defense returns 10 of its top 11 tacklers from a year ago for a unit that should be much improved. It has the potential to keep down a Michigan State offense that managed just 18.7 points per game last year.

Tulsa may have an upper hand in gamesmanship as well. Head coach Philip Montgomery has yet to name a starting quarterback for Friday, and he might not until the team takes the field. Baylor transfer Zach Smith and sophomore Seth Boomer, who started eight games last season, are the challengers.

Michigan State has also struggled covering spreads. The Spartans are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games at home, 1-6 on Fridays and only 1-5 in their last six August contests.

We can tell you Tierney is leaning under, but his much stronger play is on the spread. He's found a critical x-factor that makes one side of the spread hit hard on Friday. He's sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine. 

Who wins Tulsa vs. Michigan State? And what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Tulsa vs. Michigan State spread you should be all over Friday, all from the expert who is 5-0 in picks involving the Spartans.