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You may not have realized, but the commencement of the 2024 College Football Season is just under 100 days away.
Get ready for the upcoming tailgating, marching bands, and the country’s most devoted fan bases. And let’s not forget about the thriving sports betting community right here in Michigan.
Michigan and Michigan State are both entering 2024 with high expectations after successful campaigns in 2021.
What insights can we gather from the early college football lines and futures odds regarding the Spartans and Wolverines?
Michigan back to chasing Ohio State
After a long hiatus, the Michigan Wolverines clinched their first Big Ten Championship since 2004. Under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh, the team achieved an impressive 12-2 overall record last season, dominating the Big Ten with a stellar 8-1 performance.
For the upcoming year of 2024, FanDuel Sportsbook MI has set the over/under for Michigan’s regular season wins at 9.5.
Most futures markets consider Michigan a highly unlikely contender. The Wolverines are listed at +6000 to win the College Football Playoff, +800 to win the Big Ten Conference, and +600 to win the Big Ten East. Conversely, Ohio State is the clear favorite in the conference with odds of -200.
Michigan has a relatively manageable schedule, featuring eight games played at home and four games on the road. The most challenging matchups to anticipate are the away game against Iowa on October 1st and the season finale against Ohio State on November 26th.
According to FanDuel, Michigan is favored by 4 points in their game against Iowa. However, when playing against Ohio State, the Wolverines are considered underdogs with a 13.5-point deficit. Last year, Michigan managed to break their 8-game losing streak against OSU with a 42-27 victory.
On October 29, the Wolverines will be hosting Michigan State for another significant game. Despite Michigan State’s track record of winning 10 out of the last 14 games in the series, Michigan is opening as an 8-point favorite.
Take a glance at the complete schedule of Michigan, including the current odds for each game.
| Date | Opponent | Time | Opening Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 3 | vs. Colorado State | TBD | U-M -29 |
| Sept. 10 | vs. Hawaii | TBD | N/A |
| Sept. 17 | vs. Connecticut | TBD | N/A |
| Sept. 24 | vs. Maryland | TBD | N/A |
| Oct. 1 | at Iowa | TBD | U-M -4 |
| Oct. 8 | at Indiana | TBD | N/A |
| Oct. 15 | vs. Penn State | TBD | U-M -6.5 |
| Oct. 29 | vs. Michigan State | TBD | U-M -8 |
| Nov. 5 | at Rutgers | TBD | N/A |
| Nov. 12 | vs. Nebraska | TBD | U-M -11.5 |
| Nov. 19 | vs. Illinois | TBD | N/A |
| Nov. 26 | at Ohio State | TBD | U-M +13.5 |
MSU having to prove itself again
Coach Mel Tucker led Michigan State to a successful second season, as they made a strong push for a place in the Big Ten Championship. Unfortunately, they fell just one game short of achieving their goal.
The Spartans had an impressive 11-2 record in total, including a victory in the Peach Bowl. Within the Big Ten, they achieved a solid 7-2 record. Notably, MSU secured a memorable conference win against Michigan, triumphing in a thrilling 37-33 match held at their home stadium.
FanDuel has set the over/under for MSU’s regular season wins at 7.5 this season.
The Spartans’ schedule is filled with exciting matchups, notably their visit to Washington on September 17th. Surprisingly, MSU is starting as a 3-point favorite for that game. Additionally, Michigan State faces challenging home games against Ohio State on October 8th and Wisconsin on October 15th, before traveling to Michigan on October 29th.
The season finale on Nov. 26 will feature another highly anticipated game as the Spartans travel to Penn State.
FanDuel is not very optimistic about MSU’s prospects for a championship this season. The odds for the Spartans to win the College Football Playoff are at +15000, +2500 for the Big Ten, and +1200 for the Big Ten East.
Take a glance at MSU’s complete schedule and check out the current odds for each game.
| Date | Opponent | Time | Opening Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2 | vs. Western Michigan | TBD | MSU -18.5 |
| Sept. 10 | vs. Akron | TBD | N/A |
| Sept. 17 | at Washington | TBD | MSU -3 |
| Sept. 24 | vs. Minnesota | TBD | N/A |
| Oct. 1 | at Maryland | TBD | N/A |
| Oct. 8 | vs. Ohio State | TBD | MSU +11.5 |
| Oct. 15 | vs. Wisconsin | TBD | MSU -2 |
| Oct. 29 | at Michigan | TBD | MSU +8 |
| Nov. 5 | at Illinois | TBD | N/A |
| Nov. 12 | vs. Rutgers | TBD | N/A |
| Nov. 19 | vs. Indiana | TBD | N/A |
| Nov. 26 | at Penn State | TBD | MSU +6.5 |
Handful of Heisman contenders to watch
Currently, DraftKings Sportsbook MI offers a selection of five in-state players in the 2024 Heisman Trophy market.
It is worth noting that all four individuals in the backfield happen to be from Michigan.
Here are the odds for the currently available five players:
- The odds for JJ McCarthy (U-M) are +10000.
- The odds for Blake Corum from U-M are +10000.
- Donovan Edwards from the University of Michigan has odds of +15000.
- The odds for Cade McNamara from the University of Michigan are +15000.
- The odds for Payton Thorne (MSU) are +20000.
