CFB: Central Michigan vs. Michigan State Odds Preview
Public Showing Early Support for CMU, Total Dropped from 52 to 47.5,
The Central Michigan Chippewas finished the 2022 season 4-8, 3-5 in the MAC Conference. That was good enough for fourth place in the MAC West. CMU is projected to finish fourth again in 2023, but a win against Michigan State would immediately change that perception. The Spartans, who were 5-7 / 3-6 in the Big 10 in 2022, are focused on getting back to a bowl game after failing to qualify for the second time in three seasons. College Football betting odds make Sparty a -14.5 point favorite with a total of 47.5. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT on FS1. We start our Central Michigan vs Michigan State odds preview with a look at both squads.
CMU Success Relies On Improved Defense
We heard that most of the blame for a less-than-successful season for Central Michigan was laid at the feet of the defense, but the reality is the Chippewas were ranked 64th in the country while allowing 374,5 yards per game. The concern likely has come from a CMU allowing 28.2 points per game. From a statistical perspective, CMU’s offensive statistics were worse, ranking 87th in total yards (367.7) and 98th in passing yards (207.3) per game.
Things may be getting worse on that side of the ball after QB Payton Thorne transferred to Auburn while their best receiver, Keon Coleman, took his talents to Florida State. Making their defense the focus heading into 2023 until Head Coach Jim McElwain and Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino can get their offense rolling. CMU won’t be winning an NCAA football championship anytime soon, but in order to crawl closer to the top of the MAC, the defense will have to keep them in early road games against Michigan State and Notre Dame.
The Chippewas were 4-7 ATS last season, it was the first losing season for CMU since 2018. Over the last five seasons, Central Michigan is 28-24-1 ATS, 16-12 ATS (+306 units) as an underdog. We continue our Central Michigan vs Michigan State odds preview by turning our attention to the Spartans.
Time for Tucker to Earn His Money
The NCAAF schedule has given Michigan State two gifts to start the 2023 season with home dates against Central Michigan and Richmond before the Washington Huskies come to town. State has the luxury of playing their first four games at home and seven of 12. Everything is set up for highly-paid Head Coach Mel Tucker to get his program back to a bowl game.
The criticism for the fourth-year head-man came after losing their last two games in 2022 to Indiana and Penn State. They were 12 1/2 -point favorites against the Hoosiers. Michigan State finished 2-8 ATS, which paints the picture of a bigger problem. This has always been a program that has bordered on chaos for various reasons, but last season’s fight in the tunnel against Michigan cost the university 100K while putting another scar on a school that looks like Miami light at times.
Khary Crump was charged with a felony and will be suspended for the first eight games. Until this program shows discipline on and off the field, it’s tough to put cash behind a program who are just 22-30-2 ATS (-917 units) since 2018. We conclude our Central Michigan vs Michigan State odds preview with our official selection.
Too Many Questions to Bet Side, So Total It Is
We don’t know what the Chippewas will bring under center, and we don’t know where the Spartans are mentally after imploding in 2022. The public isn’t divided with well over 90% of the early money coming in on CMU (+14.5). The number opened at -15 for a few hours, but that has been adjusted after the public made their opinion clear. We’re not as convinced, so we’re going to focus on the total. The number has plummeted from 52 to 47.5 with 62% of the money flowing in on the under.
Our advice is to sit back and let the public pound that number to the ground because we’re then going to make our way to the counter and blast away at the over. We’ve been doing this long enough to know that when two programs bring uncertainty to the table, that usually affects them defensively more than not. That concludes our Central Michigan vs Michigan State odds preview, we wish you all the best with your wagers in week one.
For NCAAF predictions, odds, analysis, and more, visi Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
