Michigan State football opens as 18-point favorite vs. Bowling Green

Dec 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio celebrates after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference football championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Michigan State won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State football opens as an 18-point favorite against Bowling Green in the first week of the season. Fair bet?

If you’re like most Michigan State football fans, you can’t wait until the offseason is over and the Spartans take the field in September. Bowling Green will come to town for the first game of the season on Sept. 2 and the Spartans should be considered overwhelming favorites.

MSU Football: MSU Recruiting: 5 bold predictions for May

The Falcons, like the Spartans, had a disappointing 2016 season, finishing just 4-8. While the Spartans had an even worse record, they’re considered major favorites in the opening game — as they should be.

According to Matt Youmans of VSiN, the Spartans are one of many Big Ten teams to open the season as big favorites. In fact, Michigan State is an 18-point favorite against the Falcons to start the season, showing that there is still respect out there for the Spartan program.

Mark Dantonio has to find a way to turn things around this offseason and get the team chemistry back to normal, high levels. He has to await the conclusion of a sexual assault investigation to finally see what players he will have when fall rolls around.

With the Spartans as 18-point favorites against Bowling Green, would you take the bet? It’s easy to pick the Falcons to beat the spread, but the Spartans might just come out with something to prove. Fall can’t come soon enough.

Home/Spartans Football