Betting Public Likes Michigan State vs. Michigan, But Rivalry Line Moves Toward Wolverines

The highly anticipated Michigan vs. Michigan State football game, which promises to be the most monumental in recent history, is only a day away.

The highly anticipated matchup between two top-ranked unbeaten teams in Michigan has sparked a flurry of wagers in the state’s sports betting scene.

Are the fans more inclined towards supporting the underdog, No. 8 Michigan State, playing at home? Or do they prefer the road favorite, sixth-ranked Michigan?

Michigan at Michigan State: Live NCAA Odds For Rivalry Game

Public backing Michigan State as spread still grows

It comes as no surprise that there has been a substantial amount of betting activity on this particular game, particularly within the state of Michigan.

On Wednesday, BetMGM Sportsbook unveiled its latest game data, revealing a significant amount of money placed on MSU as the underdog. Additionally, the majority of bets were placed on the under in the points total category.

According to Jason Scott, BetMGM vice president of trading, the Michigan vs. Michigan State game has taken control of college football betting. This highly anticipated clash between two top-10 teams is currently the most heavily wagered game of the week at BetMGM. The rivalry game has garnered significant attention from Michigan bettors, with the majority of bets and total wagers favoring Michigan State.

Originally listed as a 3.5-point favorite, Michigan’s favored status has now increased to 4.5 points (as indicated by the best live odds). However, even with this change, BetMGM reveals that 70% of its tickets are placed on MSU, and the Spartans have captured 77% of the handle.

Michigan’s moneyline has reached -200, yet it is only receiving 17% of the tickets and 19% of the handle.

The initial over/under total of 51 points decreased to a near-consensus of 50.5 on Wednesday afternoon. During this time, a remarkable 82% of the tickets and an astounding 89% of the handle favored the under.

As of Thursday night, a majority of spread betting dollars, specifically 55%, were placed on Michigan State at Caesars Sportsbook. The dominance of wagers in favor of the Spartans is even more pronounced within the state, with a staggering 94% of in-state bets being placed on them.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook’s recent report, the majority of spread handle bets (62%) and moneyline handle (80%) were placed on Michigan State.

Caesars Sportsbook: Betting handle expected to be huge for rivalry game

Caesars predicts that the handle for Saturday’s match, which marks the state’s most significant college football game of the season and coincides with the advent of online sports betting, will be substantial.

Craig Mucklow, the VP of trading at Caesars Sportsbook, stated in a release that the handle for this game in Michigan will be significant, particularly considering that the other Michigan-based team, the Detroit Lions, have not achieved a victory. The local attention towards this game is immense. Mucklow further added that this game has the potential to be the most widely bet game on Saturday in terms of handle.

BetMGM: $100,000 bet comes in on Michigan -5 alternate line

On Friday, BetMGM announced a significant wager placed on the Wolverines.

According to the sportsbook, a bettor placed a $100,000 wager on the Wolverines by adjusting the line from Michigan -4 to the alternate line of -5, with odds of +105.

If Michigan wins and covers the bet, the payout will be $105,000 in winnings.

Pressure on Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Despite having the support of the home crowd, it is widely believed that Michigan is the team that must secure the victory on Saturday.

Despite being in his seventh season at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh has yet to secure a Big Ten Conference title, or even a Big Ten East title, for himself and the program.

Not only has Harbaugh failed to secure a victory against Ohio State, but his record against Michigan State stands at 3-3. This includes the humiliating 27-24 defeat suffered at home last year.

After facing a loss, the Buckeyes may appear more vulnerable and easier to defeat. U-M must secure a victory this weekend in order to maintain control over its path towards a conference championship.

According to DraftKings oddsmakers, the Wolverines have a +550 chance of winning the Big Ten, while Ohio State is favored with a -235 status.

Michigan’s odds of winning the Big Ten title at Caesars started at +2500 (25/1) but have improved to +550, placing them second in line after Ohio State, who is the favored team with odds of -240. On the other hand, Michigan State’s odds to win the conference title were initially set at +10000 (100/1) at the beginning of the season but have since improved to +2000 (20/1).

Michigan is ranked sixth in the national championship race with odds of +3500, as listed by DK.

Mel Tucker can cement his Michigan State status

While MSU coach Mel Tucker may not face immense pressure to win on Saturday, securing a victory against the Wolverines could solidify his reputation as one of the top coaches in the country.

During the bye week, Tucker has already been confronted with speculations of becoming the next coach at LSU.

As 2021 began, MSU had a projected win count of 4.5. However, the Spartans have defied expectations, boasting an undefeated 7-0 record and securing a spot in the top-10 rankings.

If Tucker manages to secure a 2-0 victory against rival Michigan and achieve an undefeated 8-0 start in 2021, he would undoubtedly be on the fast track to establishing a legendary status in East Lansing.

Currently, FanDuel Sportsbook offers Tucker and the Spartans a +3000 chance of winning the Big Ten, which places them fifth in the conference. In contrast, U-M holds much higher odds of +500 at FanDuel.

FD has listed MSU at +12000 for the national championship, placing them among the top 12 teams with better odds than the Spartans, including Michigan.

Heisman Trophy showcase game for a handful

A significant chance awaits several Spartans and Wolverines to enhance their pursuit of the Heisman Trophy during Saturday’s nationally televised game.

The 2021 honor is still up for grabs, and DraftKings has identified five players from this game who are in contention, each listed with their odds to win.

With an impressive performance, MSU’s running back Kenneth Walker III (+2200) is at the forefront. Walker currently stands as the second-leading rusher in the nation, accumulating 997 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. Additionally, the junior athlete maintains an impressive average of 6.6 yards per carry throughout the season.

Sophomore Blake Corum (+10000) is a running back from Michigan who has made a significant impact. With 729 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 116 carries this season, Corum has proven his skills on the field. Additionally, he has showcased his versatility with 18 receptions for 125 yards.

Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara, with 1,115 passing yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, is now a part of Corum, joining them at +10000. Despite an increase in passing attempts in recent games, McNamara’s average yards per attempt remains at a modest 7.6.

Payton Thorne, the quarterback for MSU, has been performing impressively with a listed stat of +15000. The sophomore has displayed his skills by throwing for 1,701 yards and 15 touchdowns, while only throwing four interceptions. Additionally, he has showcased his versatility by rushing for 96 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

Jayden Reed, the primary focus of Thorne, sees his odds rise to +20000. Reed has recorded 27 catches, accumulating 562 yards and scoring five touchdowns. Remarkably, this junior athlete has maintained an impressive average of over 20 yards per reception throughout the season.

It appears that there is a significant amount of work for the underdogs to do in order to match the performance level of the top contenders, including Alabama’s quarterback Bryce Young (+160), Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral (+300), and Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud (+450).