2022 Michigan State Spartans Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

2022 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING ODDS, PREDICTIONS, PREVIEW

Michigan State had a tremendous season in East Lansing, Mel Tucker's second year at the helm for the Big Ten squad. After a 2-5 season during the strange COVID campaign of 2020, the Spartans responded with 10 regular-season victories and a bowl win over Pittsburgh in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. Sparty suffered two setbacks during the season, losing 40-29 at Purdue on Nov. 6, and then they were shellacked at Ohio State by a 56-7 score on Nov. 20. That's it.

Michigan State enjoyed a win over rival Michigan, 37-33, topping a team which was in the College Football Playoff. MSU also won at Miami (Fla.) in the non-conference schedule, while topping Penn State in the finale. As such, Sparty ended up ranked No. 9. So what can they do for an encore?

The bad news is that all-everything RB Kenneth Walker III is now in the NFL, so a replacement must be found. QB Payton Thorne was serviceable enough, even setting a school record with 27 touchdown strikes while tossing 10 interceptions. WR Jayden Reed is also back, so the pass game is in good shape. To replace KW3, Tucker is likely to tab former recruit at Colorado, RB Jarek Broussard, to be the workhorse back to work behind an experienced offensive line. RB Jalen Berger could also pair up with Broussard to give the team a nice one-two punch.

The pass defense, specifically the secondary, was terrible at times. CB Ameer Speed transfers in from Georgia to help bolster the unit, while S Xavier Henderson was one of the bright spots in 2020. DTs Simeon Barrow and Jacob Slade have it locked down in the front seven. The linebackers are very, very good, too.

Looking at the non-conference sked, MSU hosts a pair of MAC teams before hitting the road to face Washington. Could that be a possible Big Ten conference game preview for down the road? We'll see. As it stands, it is a tough trek to go to Seattle. Sparty gets Ohio State at home, but travels to meet rival Michigan. The Penn State game is also on the road, and the last Saturday of the season, so that could be quite tricky. Overall, though, the schedule is pretty favorable. This is easily a seven-win team, and Michigan State should be able to trip up either Washington, Wisconsin or Penn State for that eighth win. Play the OVER for wins, but really this could go either way.

Best Bet: Michigan State Over 7.5 Wins (-120)

Updated on 12/24/2024

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2022 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS SCHEDULE

• Fri., Sept. 2 - vs. Western Michigan
• Sat., Sept. 10 - vs. Akron
• Sat., Sept. 17 - at Washington
• Sat., Sept. 24 - vs. Minnesota
• Sat., Oct. 1 - at Maryland
• Sat., Oct. 8 - vs. Ohio State
• Sat., Oct. 15 - vs. Wisconsin
• Sat., Oct. 29 - at Michigan
• Sat., Nov. 5 - at Illinois
• Sat., Nov. 12 - vs. Rutgers
• Sat., Nov. 19 - vs. Indiana
• Sat, Nov. 26 - at Penn State

WIN TOTAL ODDS

• Over 7.5 (-120)
• Under 7.5 (-110)

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS ODDS TO WIN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP

+2500

The Spartans were one game back of Michigan in the Big Ten East Division last season. Had it beaten Ohio State in the penultimate game of the regular season, Sparty, not the Maize and Blue, would have gone to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game against Iowa. The Spartans were very good last season, but they lost their top player, Walker, to the NFL. That's going to sting, and we'll see a backslide. This team isn't getting to 10 wins, or anything close to it, so don't expect a title.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS ODDS TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

+6600

Michigan State lays claim to six national championships, with the last coming back in 1966. It has lost at least two games in each season since 2013 when it won the Rose Bowl under Mike Dantonio. That was the only time Michigan State finished with less than two losses since that title year of 1966. In other words, Michigan State can be good, it can win 10 games in a season, but it cannot compete for national titles.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 2022 HEISMAN CONTENDERS & ODDS

Payton Thorne (QB) +8000

Jarek Broussard (RB) +15000

Jalen Berger (RB) +50000

Thorne had rather pedestrian numbers in 2021, completing 60.8% of his pass attempts in the regular season with 24 touchdowns and four rushing scores. He likely needs a huge improvement in all categories to even get a sniff of Heisman chatter. Broussard is likely the favorite in the tailback battle, but he had just two 100-yard games last season in Colorado, and he has six overall in his career. He will benefit from a change of scenery, but even stud tailback Walker didn't get an invite to New York City last season, and Broussard won't have nearly the same kind of production.

2021 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING RESULTS

• SU: 11-2
• ATS: 9-3-1
• O/U: 7-6
• ATS-Home: 5-1-1
• ATS-Road: 4-2
• ATS-Favorite: 5-2-1
• ATS-Underdog: 4-1

MORE CONFERENCE ODDS

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish