College Football Classic Rivalry – Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans

Game-day: 10/3/2009

Kick-off: 12:00 pm EST

In the College Football Power Rankings, the Michigan Wolverines are ranked #13. That’s probably higher than most other rankings, but my feeling is that if strength of schedule is going to catch up to Michigan it will in roughly a week when they face the Iowa Hawkeyes. Until then, the Wolverines should enjoy the ride. Undefeated is undefeated and 3 and 1 against the spread is a good indication that the Wolverines are playing well.

Their good luck may run out this Saturday when they face the unlucky Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans have lost three in a row straight-up to Central Michigan, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin. They’ve gone 1 and 2 ATS in that stretch and will be looking to turn things around against their in state rival.

Here are the BetOnline online sportsbook NCAA football odds for this game.

Michigan Wolverines pk -110

Michigan State pk -110

Here are a few online wagering trends for this game.

• The Michigan Wolverines are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
• The Michigan Wolverines are 1 and 7 against the spread in their last 8 conference games.
• The Michigan State Spartans are 1 and 4 against the spread in their last 5 games overall.
• The Michigan State Spartans are 0 and 4 ATS in their last 4 games versus a team with a winning record.

This will be the Wolverine’s first road game. In one sense, it’s a terrific time to play on the road. After escaping against a bad team at home, Michigan should be ready to show up this week against the Spartans. Then again, they play Iowa, arguably the best team in the Big Ten, in about a week.

One of the reasons that the college football betting spread is a pick’em is because Michigan’s terrific quarterback, Tate Forcier, will be playing with a sore shoulder. That doesn’t bother me.

Michigan’s mental state bothers me more. Either the Wolverines will push because of what happened against Indiana or they will look ahead to their matchup against the Hawkeyes. Either way, this is yet another trap game for the young Wolverines.

The kicker is that the Spartans won’t be able to capitalize. Michigan State is a desperate team. Usually desperations works well in the NFL where experience matters. In college football, desperation can lead to getting your butt whipped as desperate kids make desperate mistakes.

I see this as a close game but I have to side with Coach Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines. They’re more talented than the Spartans and that should lead them to victory.

The football bet is on Michigan as a pick’em in the sportsbook.