Peach Bowl Odds: After Opt Outs, Michigan State Now Favored Over Pittsburgh

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Written By Julie Walker on December 22, 2021
Peach Bowl Odds Michigan State Pittsburgh December 2021

Can you please rewrite the following statement? <br><br>”I am sorry, but I am unable to attend the meeting tomorrow due to a conflicting appointment that I have.”

The sports world experiences rapid changes, particularly during an ongoing pandemic. Just a few weeks ago, the focus surrounding Michigan State’s inaugural Peach Bowl appearance revolved around Mel Tucker’s impressive transformation of the East Lansing team.

Despite being labeled as underdogs in Georgia, Tucker’s Spartans defied expectations throughout the entire season and emerged victorious.

As kickoff approaches, the narratives have shifted. Michigan State’s standout running back and Heisman Trophy hopeful, Kenneth Walker III, made the decision to withdraw from the game. Additionally, Kenny Pickett, a fellow Heisman candidate who led the Pittsburgh Panthers to a remarkable 10-2 season and secured the ACC title, also chose to opt out.

Furthermore, the surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide has resulted in the relocation of college sports games and the temporary suspension of professional sports seasons.

If safety concerns are met and the game proceeds, is it possible for Michigan State to overcome the distractions and end Tucker’s breakthrough season with a victory?

Peach Bowl Odds: Michigan State vs. Pittsburgh

How to watch the Peach Bowl: No. 10 Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 12 Pittsburgh Panthers

  • The upcoming game features Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) against Pittsburgh (11-2, 7-1 ACC).
  • The specified time is 7 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on December 30th.
  • The location is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
  • The television channel ESPN will feature Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III, and Quint Kessenich as its announcers.
  • Spartan Media Network on the radio.

Odds shift in Michigan State’s favor

Michigan State is now considered the slight favorite over Pitt in the Peach Bowl, despite initial odds favoring Pitt at the end of regular-season play, according to Michigan’s online sportsbooks.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Panthers were considered underdogs by DraftKings Sportsbook, receiving 3 points. However, BetMGM Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook both had Michigan State favored, with a point spread of 2.5 points.

This season, the Spartans had a spread record of 8-3-1, whereas the Panthers had a slightly lower record of 8-4. Pittsburgh has consistently been favored in all their matchups so far, including their game against Wake Forest.

Michigan State bettors can find the most profitable moneyline of -135 at BetMGM, while those wanting to wager on Pitt can get the best moneyline of +120 at FanDuel and DraftKings.

Michigan oddsmakers initially set the over/under for the Pickett and Walker III announcements between 62.5 to 64 points. However, these predictions have now shifted downwards. FanDuel anticipates the lowest outcome at 55.5 points, while BetMGM establishes the new high at 57 points.

The Atlanta Zoo has predictions of its own to share, proving that oddsmakers aren’t the sole group in the game. Take a look at these expert guesses!

Walker III big part of MSU’s success

Tucker and his team exceeded low expectations by finishing the regular season with an impressive 10-2 record and earning a No. 10 ranking in the College Football Playoff.

In addition, the head coach in their second year has now become one of only two Michigan State coaches, alongside Duffy Daugherty and Mark Dantonio, to achieve victory in 10 regular-season games.

For a majority of the latter part of the season, Michigan State managed to maintain its position in the top 10 rankings. As a result of his successful efforts in reviving the program, Tucker was rewarded with a lucrative contract extension worth $95 million over a span of 10 years.

The Spartans concluded the regular season with an average of approximately 32 points per game, almost twice as much as their previous season’s average of 18 points. However, there is a question of how much the absence of Walker III will impact this overall score. The Heisman candidate played a crucial role by carrying the ball 263 times, resulting in 1,636 yards gained and 18 touchdowns.

Heading into the matchup, Payton Thorne, the quarterback, and Jayden Reed, the receiver, stand out as the two remaining offensive leaders.

Thorne’s regular season performance included 206 successful completions out of 339 attempts. He accumulated a total of 2,886 passing yards and delivered 24 touchdowns, while enduring nine interceptions. Additionally, he contributed 177 rushing yards and achieved four touchdowns on the ground.

Reed’s impressive stats include 52 receptions, accumulating 946 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.

Panthers must regroup offense

The Atlantic Coast Conference championship was sealed by the Panthers as they triumphed over Wake Forest with an impressive 45-21 victory, marking the end of their victorious 10-win regular season.

After the ACC championship game, the Panthers had an average score of 43 points. This impressive performance was mainly due to quarterback Pickett, who ranked fifth in the nation with a remarkable 4,319 passing yards.

Despite the necessity for an offensive retool, Pittsburgh has the advantage of a valuable connection in their head coach Pat Narduzzi. Narduzzi, who served as Michigan State’s defensive coordinator for eight seasons between 2007 and 2014, brings a longstanding relationship that could prove beneficial.

Michigan State dominates short, dated history against Pitt

Only on seven occasions have Michigan State and Pittsburgh faced off against each other. These matchups occurred in 1945, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1960, 2006, and 2007.

In the offseason, the Spartans and Michigan State recently played against each other for the first time. The Spartans have a total of six wins, and in 1960, they tied in a game. The most recent meeting between the teams took place on September 15, 2007, in East Lansing, with Michigan State winning 17-13.

In 1968, during the inaugural Peach Bowl, LSU emerged victorious over Florida State with a score of 31-27. The game welcomed Chick-fil-A as a sponsor in 1997, and they have maintained their sponsorship ever since. From 2006 to 2013, the annual bowl game was known as the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Can you please rephrase the following sentence for me?

Please rewrite your original sentence so I can help you in the best possible way.

“Can you please rewrite this?”

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