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Michigan State vs. Michigan final betting odds and a score prediction

Is Paul Bunyan finally coming home?
ByConnor Muldowney
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Michigan State players celebrate the 37-33 win over Michigan by raising the Paul Bunyan Trophy at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
Michigan State players celebrate the 37-33 win over Michigan by raising the Paul Bunyan Trophy at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

You’ll want to keep an eye on Ann Arbor for Saturday night’s Michigan State vs. Michigan showdown which will mark the 119th battle between the two teams. It may not be as toxic as it usually is, but it’s going to be one of the more evenly-matched matchups in the past five years.

And the Paul Bunyan Trophy is on the line.

Unfortunately for Michigan State, it’s been living in Ann Arbor since 2021 and it hasn’t even thought about coming home. But the Spartans have a chance this year given how poorly the Wolverines have been playing and the fact that Michigan State has been improving and should probably have two more wins on its record.

The Spartans could legitimately be 4-4 if a couple of plays against Northwestern and Illinois went differently and Michigan probably should have one more loss on its record because of that Western Michigan game.

Saturday’s game won’t be for titles or playoff position, it’ll be for bragging rights. Anything can happen. What does Vegas think?

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Saturday, Nov. 7.

Line: Michigan -14
Over/Under: 39.5
Moneyline: Michigan -600 | Michigan State +440

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The Spartans are heavy underdogs and Vegas expects this to be much more of a defensive battle considering the over/under is set at just 39.5 which is probably where I’d expect it, too.

Michigan State isn’t 14 points worse than Michigan, in my opinion, but with this game being played in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines are getting a couple of extra points. It could go either way, but Vegas is leaning heavy on the Wolverines.

Predicting Michigan State vs. Michigan

The 14-point spread is a little much but Michigan should absolutely be favored heading into Saturday’s showdown. The Wolverines are coming off a sloppy win over Rutgers which followed an overtime heartbreaking loss to Indiana.

Now they’re looking to hold onto Paul Bunyan for yet another season.

Michigan State will play up to its competition again and it’ll take Michigan down to the wire. Unfortunately, Michigan will get the last laugh with a walk-off field goal.

Final score: Michigan State 17, Michigan 20

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