The Michigan State Spartans (6-6) and Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4) will slug it out at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Kickoff at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx is set for 3:20 p.m. ET Friday. We analyze the Michigan State-Wake Forest odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Michigan State vs. Wake Forest: Three things you need to know
1. The Spartans managed a dismal 7-14 SU record in their first 21 bowl appearances from 1937-2010. However, they won the Outback Bowl Jan. 2, 2012 against the Georgia Bulldogs, and they’re 5-2 SU in their last seven bowl appearances. They did lose 7-6 to the Oregon Ducks in the Redbox Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif., last season.
2. Wake Forest, picked to finish dead last in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, is appearing in a bowl for the fourth straight season. They’re 9-4 SU all time in bowls, including a 3-0 run under coach Dave Clawson, including a 37-34 win over the Memphis Tigers in the Birmingham Bowl last season.
3. Michigan State is 5-1 ATS in the past six bowl games, as is Wake Forest’s ATS record in bowl games during the same span.
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Michigan State vs. Wake Forest: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 3:50 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Michigan State 22, Wake Forest 16
Moneyline (ML)
Michigan State (-189) heads to NYC as a strong favorite. It would certainly be a different story if Wake Forest (+155) had star WR Sage Surratt on the field and not on the shelf due to injury.
Against the Spread (ATS)
MICHIGAN STATE (-3.5, -115) has posted a 7-2-1 ATS mark in the past 10 neutral-site battles. The Spartans offense has been terrible, ranking 101st in total yards (362.6 YPG) while posting 22.0 points per game to rank 107th. Defensively the Spartans have it on lockdown, ranking 18th in total yards (320.1 YPG), while coughing up just 109.5 rushing yards per outing to rank 14th.
Wake Forest (+3.5, -106) was impressive offensively, but again, it will be missing Surratt, who led the team with 1,001 receiving yards.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 50.5 (-110) is the play. MSU is 5-15 O/U in its past 20 games overall, and 4-10 O/U the past 14 against winning teams. The Under is also 7-3 in Wake’s past 10 games overall, and 6-1 in its past seven as an underdog.
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