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As the 2022 college football season approaches, Michigan State is not expected to catch anyone off guard.
The Spartans have shed their underdog status after Mel Tucker’s impressive 11-win performance in 2021.
When it comes to the odds for MSU in 2022, what can Michigan sports bettors expect from the oddsmakers?
Michigan State 2022 season odds
These are the odds MSU is considering to win the National Championship, the Big Ten Conference, and the Big Ten East in 2022.
According to oddsmakers, three teams are perceived as the leading contenders in the race for the national title. Alabama is the favored team, closely followed by Ohio State and Georgia. On the other hand, it is evident that MSU is viewed as a significant underdog in this competition.
Oddsmakers are favoring Ohio State, making them the clear frontrunner in both the Big Ten and Big Ten East. The Spartans will face a tough challenge in overcoming Ohio State to have a chance at fulfilling their conference expectations.
MSU football win total odds
The focal point of many individuals will be the over/under for MSU’s wins in 2022, reflecting the likelihood that people will direct their attention towards it.
As of now, DraftKings Sportsbook MI has set the Spartans’ regular season win line at 7.5.
The odds for the over are set at -130, indicating that oddsmakers believe it is more probable for Michigan State to achieve 8 wins rather than 7. Conversely, the under is listed at +110.
Michigan State’s 2022 schedule has been devised with the aim of securing eight victories.
- The game against Western Michigan is scheduled for September 2nd at 7 p.m.
- The match against Akron is scheduled for September 10th at 4 p.m.
- On September 17th, the game is scheduled to be held at Washington at 7:30 p.m.
- The game against Minnesota on September 24th is yet to be announced.
- The Maryland game is scheduled for October 1 at a time to be announced.
- The match against Ohio State on October 8th is yet to be determined.
- The game against Wisconsin on October 15th is yet to be announced.
- The game on October 29th against Michigan is yet to be determined.
- There is currently no specific time scheduled for the game on November 5th against Illinois.
- The game against Rutgers on November 12th has yet to be determined.
- The game against Indiana on November 19th is yet to be announced.
- The game scheduled for November 26th at Penn State is currently to be announced.
Before diving into Big Ten play, MSU faces an initial test as they travel to Washington. Though the crossover games present their own set of challenges, having home field advantage against Minnesota and Wisconsin provides some relief.
Two highly anticipated matches on the schedule are the home game against Ohio State on Oct. 8 and the trip to Michigan on Oct. 29.
Spartans may need to rely on passing in 2022
The success achieved by Michigan State in 2021 can be attributed to the exceptional performance of Kenneth Walker III.
In his solitary season with the Spartans, the transfer running back achieved an impressive feat by rushing for 1,636 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns.
MSU, currently playing for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, must explore fresh offensive strategies.
Junior quarterback Payton Thorne, who threw for 3,240 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2021, will once again take charge of the passing attack.
Thorne is fortunate to have his senior year accompanied by his top receiver, Jayden Reed, who returns to the team. Reed demonstrated his skills last season by catching 59 passes, accumulating 1,026 yards, and scoring 10 touchdowns.
DraftKings has both players at odds of +20000 to win the Heisman Trophy for the 2022 season.
Despite having a successful season last year, the performance of the MSU offensive line can be considered mediocre at best. Although the current unit benefits from returning experienced players and the addition of veteran transfer Brian Greene, their overall performance remains somewhat unproven.
Tucker returned to the portal to recruit Jalen Berger from Wisconsin and Jarek Broussard from Colorado as potential replacements for Walker. Tucker is optimistic that these two players can replicate the magic that Walker brought to the team.
Michigan State defense has to improve
Michigan State’s defense in 2021 lacked strength.
In terms of total defense, the Spartans found themselves at the bottom of the Big Ten, allowing an average of 455.6 yards per game. Their performance in scoring defense was also less than ideal, as they ranked 11th with an average of 25.7 points allowed per game.
The passing defense of MSU, which allowed an average of 337.7 yards per game, ranked last in the conference. However, the Spartans can take comfort in the fact that they have retained some experienced players in the secondary who are expected to show improvement compared to the previous year.
Returning to the cornerback position, Ronald Williams, Marqui Lowery, and Chuck Brantley are joining forces once again. On the safety front, Angelo Grose and the leading tackler Xavier Henderson are making a comeback. In an effort to enhance the team’s performance, Ameer Speed, a transfer from Georgia, is being introduced to the secondary unit, aiming to build on the team’s 10 interceptions achieved in 2021.
In an effort to bolster MSU’s weak pass rush from the previous year, Tucker made a significant move by focusing on the portal. Despite recording 43 sacks in 2021, the Spartans faced a setback with the departure of two of their top sack contributors. The only player returning from last year with a minimum of five sacks is Jeff Pietrowski.
What to make of Michigan State football odds
Michigan State does not seem to be one of the leading contenders in the country, based on their performance on paper.
Despite being ranked No. 14 in the preseason Coaches Poll, there are still numerous significant uncertainties surrounding MSU.
Will the offensive line of Michigan State rise to the occasion? Is the Spartan passing game capable of being explosive? To what extent can we expect the Spartan defense to improve?
The positive resolution of all these questions is difficult to envision. Nevertheless, Mel Tucker’s ability to construct a successful team via the transfer portal was evident last year. Will he be able to achieve the same outcome once more in 2022?
Michigan State possesses a valuable asset in the form of positive momentum. Thanks to an impressive 11-win season, Tucker has excelled in recruiting and has successfully established a brand at MSU. As a result, this confidence and energy are expected to transfer seamlessly into the early stages of the upcoming season.
In order for MSU to achieve eight wins, their success will depend on overcoming six formidable opponents: Washington, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Penn State. The Spartans must not underestimate the remaining six matches while also managing to secure victories in at least two of the aforementioned challenging games.
Tucker has proven to have Michigan’s number in the past, and MSU has the advantage of facing Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio State at home. With this in mind, it seems reasonable to expect MSU to achieve at least eight wins. However, MSU should aim even higher and set goals beyond that mark.
