The Michigan Wolverines fell short of their ultimate goal last season, losing to TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Still, the Wolverines won the Big Ten and beat Ohio State for a second consecutive season, so last year was hardly a failure.
Entering the 2023 campaign, the Wolverines are once again expected to be in the conversation for the national title. Michigan has +900 odds to win the national championship at DraftKings, the fourth-shortest odds of any team in the nation. Only Georgia (+230), Alabama (+550), and Ohio State (+650) have shorter odds on the mobile sports betting platform.
In addition to national championship odds, DraftKings recently shared regular season win total markets. Michigan’s total is listed at 10.5 wins, with -105 odds on the over and -115 odds on the under. FanDuel also lists Michigan’s win total at 10.5, with odds on the over at -122.
Michigan has a favorable non-conference schedule, with all three games coming at home. East Carolina is its toughest non-conference opponent, yet Michigan is still expected to be a double-digit home favorite in that game.
The Wolverines’ road conference schedule looks doable, with a Nov. 11 game at Penn State the biggest challenge. Michigan plays Ohio State at home, which helps boost the team’s chances of an 11- or 12-win regular season.
Michigan is a 2.5-point favorite over Ohio State, according to the current game line available on DraftKings. The Wolverines are also 2.5-point road favorites for their matchup with Penn State. If Michigan gets through its brutal November schedule, it could finish a perfect 12-0 in the regular season.
Notably, Michigan is an 18-point favorite for a road game against Nebraska, and the Wolverines are 17.5-point road favorites against Michigan State.
FanDuel gives Michigan +210 odds to win the Big Ten Championship game, the second-shortest in the conference. Ohio State is listed at +165 to win the Big Ten title game, while Michigan is +170 to win the Big Ten at BetRivers.
What’s up with MSU?
After an 11-win season in 2021, Michigan State’s program looked like it was on the brink of competing with the best of the best for years to come. Instead, Mel Tucker’s team went 5-7 in 2022, missing a bowl game and looking mediocre throughout the season.
This offseason, starting quarterback Payton Thorne transferred from Michigan State to Auburn. The Spartans enter 2023 with low expectations, leaving some fans questioning what’s going on inside the program. Can Tucker make Michigan State a legitimate Big Ten threat again, or are the Spartans stuck at least a tier below Michigan and Ohio State?
DraftKings lists Michigan State’s win total at 5.5, with odds on the over at +120. That’s not an encouraging sign for the program’s bowl prospects, and a non-conference home game with a stacked Washington squad could make it hard for the Spartans to secure six wins.
Making a bowl in 2023 would give Michigan State fans some hope that Tucker’s long-term plan is working even after a disappointing showing in 2022.
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