Michigan vs. Michigan State 2023 College Football Week 8 Odds, Preview & Pick

By Hank Blaine • October 16, 2023

It has been a long college football season already for struggling Michigan State, but the entire year would be a success if the Spartans can knock off bitter rival and No. 2 Michigan on Saturday in East Lansing. However, UM is a huge favorite on the NCAAF odds.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans Game Information

It's on.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ZZKnEMkP71
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 16, 2023

When: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
TV: NBC
Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 (Michigan) // WJR 760 AM (Michigan State)
Live Stream: NBC Sports
College Football Odds: Michigan (-24.5) // Michigan State (+24.5)

Why Bet on the Michigan Wolverines ?

The Wolverines (7-0) have been arguably the most dominant team in the nation thus far with every win by at least 25 points. They routed Indiana 52-7 on Saturday – UM trailed 7-0 after one quarter. The Wolverines defense allowed 91 yards through the last three quarters of the game and forced four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumbles) in the win. Michigan has yet to allow more than ten points in a game this season.

On offense, UM exceeded the 400-yard mark with 244 yards through the air and 163 on the ground. After failing to post points in its first two drives, the Michigan offense scored on its final eight drives of the game, scoring 52 unanswered points. Six different Wolverines found the end zone in the effort, with running back Blake Corum leading the charge with two rushing touchdowns. Corum also contributed 52 yards on 13 carries in the effort.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy proved efficient yet again, completing 14 of 17 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He has completed at least 70 percent of his passes in six of the Wolverines’ seven games this season. Michigan has now scored at least 40 points in three straight Big Ten games for the first time since 2021. The Wolverines have scored 30-plus points in 10 consecutive games, extending the longest such streak in Michigan Football history.

Michigan has won 19 consecutive Big Ten games, matching the longest streak in program history (1990-92). It is tied for the fourth-longest streak in Big Ten history. It has won 22 consecutive regular-season games overall, the fourth-longest streak in program history and tied for the eighth-longest in Big Ten history.

UM is one of 10 undefeated teams at the FBS level, but the only one to win each of its games by 20-plus points. Only two teams (Michigan, Georgia) are 7-0. The 2023 Wolverines are the first Big Ten team to hold their first seven opponents of the season under 14 points while scoring at least 30 points since Minnesota in 1905.

Why Bet on the Michigan State Spartans?

Michigan State is a mess right now after firing Coach Mel Tucker for cause earlier this year. The Spartans blew a 24-6 fourth-quarter lead Saturday and lost 27-24 at Rutgers. Making his first career start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Katin Houser was 18-of-29 passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns for Sparty.

Senior wide receiver Tre Mosley led MSU with a game-high tying six receptions for 36 yards, including a 4-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Mosley has caught at least one reception in 23-consecutive games and in 40 of 42 career games played. It was Mosley’s second TD catch of the season and the 10th of his career, moving up to No. 18 on MSU’s career receptions list (121), tied for No. 25 on MSU’s career TDs list (10) and No. 32 on MSU’s career receiving yards list (1,404).

MSU’s 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive in 7:28 to open the game was the Spartans’ longest TD scoring drive of the season by plays and longest overall by time. Michigan State scored on its opening possession for the first time this season with the opening drive completed by a 13-yard TD pass from Houser to senior wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. Michigan State doubled its double-digit scoring drives, as MSU had three Saturday after coming in with three.

This will be the 116th meeting in the all-time series with Michigan State. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 72-38-5, and have won 27 of the last 44 games played between the two schools dating back to 1979. UM has compiled a 21-15-2 record on the road against MSU, including a 19-15-2 mark at Spartan Stadium. Michigan won back-to-back games in 2018 and 2019 and Michigan State followed with a pair of wins during the 2020 COVID season and 2021 season in East Lansing before the Wolverines won 29-17 last year in Ann Arbor.

One of the major components to securing victory in this matchup has been the ground game, with the most productive rushing attack winning 47 of the last 53 games in the series.

Michigan vs. Michigan State Betting Trends

Michigan is 2-12-1 ATS in the last 15 games against Michigan State.
Wolverines are 7-0 SU in its last 7 games.
The total went over in 4 of Michigan’s last 6 games against an opponent in the East Division division.
Michigan State is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 games when playing at home against Michigan.
Spartans are 1-4 SU in its last 5 games.
The total went under in 4 of Michigan State’s last 6 games against Michigan.

Michigan vs. Michigan State Expert Betting Predictions

Michigan 34, Michigan State 13.

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