One of the showcase games on the Week 9 college football schedule will take place in East Lansing, Mich. The No. 6 Michigan Wolverines travel to face the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans in a game featuring unbeaten rivals. Michigan is 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten following a win over Northwestern last week. Michigan State is coming off a bye with a 7-0 overall mark and four straight Big Ten wins.
Kickoff is at noon ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Wolverines as four-point favorites on the road, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 50.5 in the latest Michigan vs. Michigan State odds. Before making any Michigan State vs. Michigan picks, make sure you check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,900 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 9 of the 2021 season on a 26-11 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan vs. Michigan State and just locked in its coveted picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see all of the model’s CFB picks. Now, here are the college football odds and trends for Michigan State vs. Michigan:
- Michigan vs. Michigan State spread: Michigan -4
- Michigan vs. Michigan State over-under: 50.5 points
- Michigan vs. Michigan State money line: Michigan -190, MSU +160
- MICH: The Wolverines are 6-1 against the spread this season
- MSU: The Spartans are 5-1-1 against the spread in 2021
Featured Game | Michigan State Spartans vs. Michigan Wolverines
Why Michigan can cover
Michigan is No. 2 in the country in scoring defense, giving up only 14.3 points per game in 2021. The Wolverines are excellent on that side of the ball, but Michigan might be even better when it comes to running the ball. Michigan is No. 1 in the Big Ten in rushing offense, averaging 253.3 yards per game, and the Wolverines rank in the top five nationally in that same metric. Sophomore running back Blake Corum is a budding star, ranking No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing yards (729) and rushing touchdowns (10), and Corum is averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
He is flanked by another dynamic back in Hassan Haskins, who has 602 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Michigan is also No. 2 in the Big Ten in third-down efficiency, moving the chains on 46 percent of attempts, and the Wolverines lead the conference with 25 rushing touchdowns. The offensive line is tremendous, allowing the fewest sacks (three) in the Big Ten, and Michigan is a top-four team in the league in scoring (37.7 points per game) and total offense (442.9 yards per game).
Why Michigan State can cover
Michigan State has been highly impressive in compiling an unblemished record. On offense, the Spartans are putting up 451.7 yards and 34.3 points per game, generating 9.4 yards per pass attempt with 15 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. On the ground, Kenneth Walker III is a Heisman Trophy candidate, leading the Big Ten with 997 rushing yards and producing 6.6 yards per carry.
Walker is a threat to reach the end zone on any touch, and Michigan State can put pressure on the opposition consistently. Defensively, the Spartans are holding the opposition to only 18.7 points per game, and Michigan State leads the Big Ten with 26 sacks. Opponents are averaging only 6.1 yards per pass attempt this season, with nine passing touchdowns and six interceptions against Mel Tucker’s team.
How to make Michigan State vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, projecting 52 total points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan vs. Michigan State? And which side of the spread cashes in over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished the past five-plus years up nearly $3,900 on its FBS college football picks, and find out.
