The Michigan Wolverines take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan, on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Michigan is favored by 14.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -600. Michigan State, meanwhile, comes in as a +14.5 underdog and is +450 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 48 points.
Here’s my Michigan vs. Michigan State prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 25.
Michigan vs Michigan State Prediction
- Michigan vs. Michigan State Pick: Michigan State +14.5
My Michigan State vs. Michigan best bet is on the Spartans to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Michigan vs Michigan State Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -110 | 48 -110o / -110u | -600 |
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -110 | 48 -110o / -110u | +450 |
- Michigan vs Michigan State Spread: Michigan -14.5, Michigan State +14.5
- Michigan vs Michigan State Over/Under: 48 Points
- Michigan vs Michigan State Moneyline: Michigan -600, Michigan State +450
Michigan Wolverines vs Michigan State Spartans College Football Game Preview
Why Michigan Can Cover
It's been an up-and-down season for Michigan to this point, but all of its goals are still there for the taking.
The Wolverines will likely have to win out to make the Big Ten Championship game and contend for a College Football Playoff spot, but they'll be a favorite in every game outside of Ohio State, and that one will be played in Ann Arbor.
To keep those postseason aspirations alive, the Wolverines must take care of business on the road against their in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans.
Freshman phenom quarterback Bryce Underwood continues to make strides in the right direction, and I liked what I saw from him last week against Washington.
Underwood completed 21-of-27 of his passes, threw for two touchdowns and 230 yards, and played a mistake-free football game, which is what his team needed him to do.
That said, the freshman has not been the same player away from home thus far.
In three road games against Oklahoma, Nebraska and USC, his completion percentage dips to just 51%, and he has tossed only two touchdown passes in all of those games combined.
Michigan State will have a weaker defense than any of those three opponents, but it will still be a raucous environment inside Spartan Stadium, which will present a challenge.
On the other side of the ball, look for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to try to wreak some Havoc in the MSU backfield with some aggressive blitz packages.
This is a Spartan offense that can't seem to get out of its own way at times, and Martindale will certainly take note of that.
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has plenty of arm strength down the field, so the back end of this defense will be put to the test with some potential explosive attempts down the field.
Why Michigan State Can Cover
Michigan State is still winless in Big Ten play as we approach November.
I'll give Jonathan Smith's team this: three of its four losses have come at USC, Nebraska and Indiana, all good to elite teams. But outside of that, there was also the 38-13 loss to UCLA in East Lansing.
The bottom line is this group is struggling to find consistency on both sides of the ball, and it has also suffered plenty of significant injuries to key personnel.
For the Spartans to turn things around and make a push toward bowl eligibility, they must do a better job in pass protection and in defending opposing quarterbacks.
Chiles has plenty of arm talent, but he's seemingly under pressure on every dropback.
The junior completed over 80% of his passes last week in Bloomington and flashed the playmaking ability that had so many MSU fans excited when he announced his decision to transfer in.
If the Spartan offensive line can give him time in the pocket on Saturday night, there are plays to be made against a Michigan secondary that can be had.
On the other side of the ball, the Michigan State defense must make Underwood really earn every completion down the field.
Too many times, in games against the likes of USC and Indiana, has the secondary had mental errors that have resulted in receivers being left wide open down the field.
The freshman will be amped up in this atmosphere and could be prone to a couple of turnovers if he doesn't have easy reads to get the ball out to.
Taking advantage of those freshman mistakes and cashing in with interceptions will be paramount if MSU wants a real chance at pulling off the upset.
How To Make Michigan vs Michigan State Picks
This number is just too high for me in a rivalry game where the Spartans will be at home facing a Michigan team that has been inconsistent on the offensive side of the ball all season.
MSU will be in a max effort spot here to try to snap a four-game losing streak and also end a three-game skid against the Wolverines.
I would not be surprised in the slightest to see the Spartans grab an early lead in this matchup and keep it very tight throughout.
Michigan's superior size and physicality in the trenches will likely allow it to secure the victory, but I don't think there will be much margin.
Give me the Spartans to cover as a home underdog in a contest that I believe they could surprise a lot of people in.
Pick: Michigan State +14.5
Moneyline
No play.
Against The Spread
I'm grabbing the points with Michigan State.
Over/Under
No play.
Where To Watch Michigan vs Michigan State Live
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: NBC
- Locatoin: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan vs Michigan State Betting Trends
