The No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) and No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-1, 7-0) meet at noon ET on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Below, we look at the Michigan State vs. Ohio State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
Michigan State bounced back from its Nov. 6 Purdue loss to defeat Maryland 40-21 Saturday. RB Kenneth Walker III logged 30 rushes for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns, as the Spartans ran their home record to 5-0.
The nation’s 27th-best rushing team (199.0 yards per game) recorded 194 yards on the ground. The Spartans have compiled 180 or more yards in three straight games and in eight games overall this season.
The Buckeyes played Purdue last Saturday and got their offense back on track after a couple of subpar weeks. An Ohio State offense ranked first in the nation (550.3 total yards per game) cranked out a season-high 624 total yards in the contest. QB CJ Stroud edged further into Heisman Trophy consideration by going 31-for-38 (81.6%) for 361 yards and 5 TD passes.
Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Michigan State at Ohio State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Michigan State +700 (bet $100 to win $700) | Ohio State -1200 (bet $1,200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Michigan State +19.5 (-112) | Ohio State -19.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 68.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Michigan State at Ohio State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio State 38, Michigan State 24
Money line
PASS on the juice-filled money-line prices.
Against the spread
Attention on the Spartans ranking 130th in pass defense (yardage) and the Buckeyes tending to be a public-backed team have this number perhaps a field goal out of whack.
Michigan State ranks 24th in avoiding explosive pass plays and 34th in passing yards per attempt. Ohio State is effective on offense but not to a run-away-and-hide-in-a-boat-race degree.
That did happen last season when OSU defeated the Spartans, 52-12, in East Lansing, an MSU team that was a turnover minus-2 that day — and held back by 101 yards in penalties — has been made over with quality coaching and the transfer portal.
A revenge game won’t get Sparty over the top, but it could well make for a game inside three scores. Or closer. BACK MICHIGAN STATE +19.5 (-112).
Over/Under
Per Covers.com, the Under is 5-0 in the last five MSU-OSU games at the Shoe. And it is 5-1 in the last six series games.
With enough respect for MSU staying within 17, and acknowledging both teams’ solid ability to avoid big plays (OSU on the ground especially) — and on what looks to be a mid-40s, breezy day in the Buckeye State — the UNDER 68.5 (-107) is worth a look as a partial-unit play.
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