After a long summer, college football is back in the state of Michigan.
Both Michigan State and Michigan will kickoff their 2022 season this weekend, both also with high hopes for another strong campaign.
Michigan State gets things started on Friday night when it hosts Western Michigan at 7 p.m. Michigan will then open the season on Saturday at noon when it takes on Colorado State.
Oddsmakers see both the Spartans and Wolverines as big favorites this weekend, and also expect them to have successful seasons as well.
For more odds and information on MSU and U-M football, be sure to visit PlayMichigan.com.
MSU a 3-touchdown favorite
Coming off an 11-2 season that included a win over Michigan and a Peach Bowl victory, Michigan State is set to start its third season under Mel Tucker.
The Spartans will welcome in-state foe, Western Michigan to town on Friday night. The Broncos were 8-5 last season, including a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.
For Friday’s contest, college football oddsmakers are solidly behind the Spartans. MSU is ranging from a 21.5-22.5-point favorite at home. This means oddsmakers expect the Spartans to win by that point range.
MSU is 14-2 all-time against Western Michigan, having won the last 12 meetings.
The big question for Michigan State coming into Friday is how its offense will look. With Kenneth Walker III moving onto the NFL, the Spartans will need to replace his 1,636 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns from 2021.
That may come more through the passing game, as Payton Thorne enters his junior season with expectations to grow from his 3,240-yard, 27-touchdown season a year ago. Thorne does have his top target, Jayden Reed, returning for his senior year. Reed caught 59 passes for 1,026 yards and 10 scores a year ago.
Mel Tucker continued to hit the transfer portal in hopes of replacing Walker in the backfield. Jarek Broussard (Colorado) and Jalen Berger (Wisconsin) are expected to be MSU’s lead backs in hope of replacing Walker by committee.
AP Photo/AJ Mast, File
FILE – Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh walks on the sideline during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. Michigan is coming off its best season under Jim Harbaugh, finally breaking through to beat rival Ohio State and ending its longest drought without a Big Ten championship. The eighth-ranked Wolverines host Colorado State on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 at home in the opener for both teams. Former Nevada coach Jay Norvell will make his debut with the Rams. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)Michigan favored by 30 points
The MSU spread against Western is large, but Michigan’s spread at home against Colorado State is even larger.
Oddsmakers have the Wolverines as a 30.5-point favorite against the Rams on Saturday afternoon.
In 2021, Michigan finally secured its first Big Ten Championship since 2004 and ended an 8-game losing streak to Ohio State with a 12-2 season.
The Wolverines made the College Football Playoffs for the first time, led by a dominant defense.
This year, U-M will likely have to be led by its offense. The defense lost a lot of starters, including three that were taken in the top 45 of last year’s NFL Draft.
Though the offense is expected to lead, Jim Harbaugh still doesn’t know quite who will lead it.
Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy continue a quarterback battle that lingered from last season. McNamara threw for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021 while managing the offense. McCarthy saw limited snaps and threw for 516 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 124 yards and two scores.
Harbaugh can’t decide between the two, announcing McNamara will start Saturday’s game, while McCarthy will start next week at home against Hawaii. Both are expected to play in each game.
Either starter has a veteran group of receivers and tight ends to work with. Ronnie Bell, Cornelius Johnson, Andrel Anthony, Roman Wilson and Erick All are all back in the lineup to catch the ball.
In the backfield, Blake Corum returns after rushing for nearly 1,000 yards last season. West Bloomfield’s Donovan Edwards is also expected to have an expanded role with the offense this year after making an impact late in the 2021 season.
Colorado State was just 3-9 last season. These two have only met once before, a 24-14 victory for Michigan in 1994.
Season expectations
This weekend will be the first of 12 regular season games for both teams. Both are expected to once again have winning seasons.
Oddsmakers are listing Michigan’s over/under for regular season wins at 9.5, while MSU’s sits at 7.5.
In the Big Ten race, both teams will be chasing Ohio State this season. Oddsmakers have the Buckeyes as the clear favorite to win the conference sitting anywhere from -210 to -250 (-210 means you need to bet $210 to win back $100).
Michigan is actually closest to Ohio State in the odds race, listed anywhere from +650 to +825 (+650 means you need to bet $100 to win back $650). MSU is much further back, listed from +2500 to +3300.
If you are looking for national championship odds, oddsmakers think it’s a pretty big longshot for both teams.
Michigan is considered more likely, listed around +5000 to win it all. MSU is even further back at +20000. Alabama is the current favorite for the national title with just +175 odds.
If you or anyone you know needs help with their gambling-related issue, call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-270-7117.
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September 01, 2022 at 09:42PM
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