Six years ago, Michigan State was scrambling to find a replacement for Mark Dantonio who retired suddenly around National Signing Day. Luke Fickell was one of the first names that was brought up and there was real smoke surrounding his hiring. There was a reported offer, the rumor was that Fickell had agreed, and then he decided to stay at Cincinnati.
Spartan fans were broken during the whole coaching search, but Mel Tucker was the eventual hire, leaving Colorado after just one season.
Michigan State fans haven’t forgotten about the “waffling flake” considering that was one of the most important hires in program history. Fickell looked like he was going to be the guy after Dantonio and the fit made the most sense, but he declined the offer to stick it out at Cincinnati. A year later, he was hired by Wisconsin and he’s been a total letdown in Madison, failing to reach a bowl game since 2023.
Now, he’s going to face the school he turned down six years ago to join Wisconsin and fail to meet expectations with the Badgers. However, he’s going to do it with a little momentum on his side for the first time in three years.
After the Badgers shocked No. 13 Penn State on the road last week, Vegas has them as heavy favorites against Michigan State entering Week 5.
Spartan fans have revenge on the mind, though.
Opening odds for Michigan State vs Wisconsin
As expected, Michigan State is going into Madison as a heavy underdog. Vegas is giving the public what would have been considered a gift right after the Notre Dame loss.
Odds via DraftKings as of Sept. 29.
Line: Wisconsin -10
Over/Under: 43.5
Moneyline: Wisconsin -410 | Michigan State +320
For a third week in a row, Michigan State is going to be an underdog and for the second time in three weeks, it’s going to be by double figures on the road.
The Spartans were 29-point dogs against Notre Dame in Week 3 but they kept it within a touchdown at the half and just ran out of gas in the second half to lose by 17. They were 5.5-point underdogs against Nebraska and that turned into a blowout win for the Cornhuskers. Now Michigan State is a two-score underdog again, and if the trend continues, that means it’ll cover that double-digit road spread and surprise some people.
Will Michigan State have Wisconsin on “upset alert” heading into Week 5? Vegas doesn’t think so, but Pat Fitzgerald is not going to just roll over and let his team get handled for a third week in a row.
At least Spartan fans hope not.
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