Michigan football vs. Michigan State football betting odds and prediction
By Bob Heyrman
Michigan football travels to East Lansing to take on their undefeated in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans.
East Lansing has been kind to Jim Harbaugh throughout his career as a coach and player. Harbaugh has a perfect 4-0 record at Spartans Stadium, but that is in serious jeopardy this weekend with how well Mel Tucker has Michigan State playing in 2021.
You can safely say both Michigan and Michigan State have exceeded expectations so far this season. Still, the Spartans are quickly becoming one of the biggest surprises in all of college football.
Tucker has dipped into the transfer portal and quickly rebuilt this Michigan State program with impactful players led by Heisman hopeful Kenneth Walker III. Walker currently sits second in the country in rushing yards with 997, only 63 yards behind Sean Tucker of Syracuse.
Harbaugh’s Wolverines are no slouch when it comes to running the football, but they use a two-headed rushing attack behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins.
Corum has totaled 729 rushing yards, ten touchdowns on 116 carries, and 18 receptions totaling 125 yards and one score. Haskins has amassed 602 rushing yards on 124 carries and ten scores.
Both schools pride themselves on pounding the rock and controlling the clock; however, when it comes to quarterback play and big-play threats on the outside, the edge goes to the Spartans. Michigan State’s quarterback Payton Thorne averages 9.3 yards per pass attempt compared to Cade McNamara’s 7.6.
Thorne has totaled 1,701 yards and 15 touchdowns to four interceptions on 183 attempts. McNamara, in turn, has totaled 1,115 yards and just five touchdowns to one interception. As you can see, the Wolverines struggle to push the football down the field since losing their top playmaker Ronnie Bell for the season during the first game of the season.
The Spartans are getting stellar contributions from Jayden Reed both in the passing game and special teams. Reed has totaled 562 yards on five touchdowns, and Jalen Nailor has totaled 512 yards and six touchdowns. Both have hauled in 27 receptions. The third member of this group is Tre Mosley, who has made 21 catches totaling 321 yards.
Michigan football has yet to find anyone with similar explosiveness. Cornelius Johnson has made 17 catches totaling a team-leading 312 yards and three touchdowns.
Michigan football’s defense currently ranks second in the country averaging 14.3 points per game, while Michigan State football isn’t far behind, ranking 20th, allowing just 18.7 points.
It will be the first time each program heads into the game undefeated since 2010.
Michigan football at Michigan State football betting odds, spread, and prediction.
According to WynnBET, Michigan currently sits as 4.5 road favorites. You can get the Wolverines at +100 or Michigan State at -100.
The Moneyline currently sits at -190 to Michigan and +170 to Michigan State, with the Under/Over at 50.5.
I am taking the Spartans to cover and potentially win outright at home. I see this being a ground and pound type of contest with minimal explosive downfield plays, and if the Wolverines hope to pull off a road win, it will be on the right foot of Jake Moody, who is a stellar 14 for 16 on the season.
I see this one shaping up 27-24 Wolverines, but as I previously mentioned, I wouldn’t be shocked to see this score in favor of Michigan State.