Michigan State vs. Michigan final odds and a prediction

Fresh off arguably his best win as a Spartan head coach, Jonathan Smith faces his biggest winnable test yet: a road game in Ann Arbor. The annual Michigan State vs. Michigan game is a lot more interesting this year.

Both Michigan and Michigan State are led by first-year head coaches but the two programs seem to be trending in opposite directions.

On one side, you have the Wolverines who have lost two straight games to Washington and Illinois and on the other side, you have the Spartans who just beat Iowa handily at home. Michigan is 4-3 on the year after winning the national title in 2023 and Michigan State is also 4-3 after a forgetful 4-8 season in which it saw its head coach fired for off-field conduct.

But there's a lot of doubt surrounding Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines this year and that has something to do with that nightmarish quarterback room in Ann Arbor.

The Spartans will be looking to take advantage of that weakness on Saturday night.

After that 49-0 debacle against the Wolverines in East Lansing last year, heading into this game with some hope is a refreshing change. What does Vegas think of this matchup?

Odds courtesy of DraftKings.

Line: Michigan -4
Over/Under: 39
Moneyline: Michigan -175 | Michigan State +145

Vegas had Michigan as a 24-point favorite in this matchup before the season began and now the Spartans are just 4-point underdogs. It's wild how much has changed in just a couple of months.

If Will Johnson is unable to go for Michigan on Saturday, I think we'll see Nick Marsh feast and Aidan Chiles have a second straight strong performance against a quality defensive unit. If he does play, I expect a lot of Jack Velling and Montorie Foster Jr. Either way, I think this game is close and Michigan State pulls off the upset, bringing Paul Bunyan home.

Final score: Michigan State 20, Michigan 17