Tag: Western Michigan Broncos football

Western Michigan at Michigan State odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s Western Michigan at Michigan State odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Michigan State Spartans will host the Western Michigan Broncos to begin the 2022 season on Friday. Kickoff at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., is 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Michigan State vs. Western Michigan odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

The Spartans concluded last season with an 11-2 record after going 2-5 in Mel Tucker’s 1st year as coach in 2020. While Michigan State lost RB Kenneth Walker III, the offense is returning Payton Thorne at quarterback  following a positive campaign in 2021.

Broncos coach Tim Lester enters his 6th year at Western Michigan. The Broncos went 8-5 in 2021, the most wins Lester has won during his tenure with the program (32-25 overall). Jack Salopek is expected to make his 1st collegiate start at quarterback Friday vs. the Spartans.

Michigan State is No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

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Western Michigan at Michigan State odds

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:31 a.m. ET.

  • Money line (ML): Western Michigan +850 (bet $100 to win $850) | Michigan State -1800 (bet $1800 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Western Michigan +21.5 (-108) | Michigan State -21.5 (-112)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 54.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Western Michigan at Michigan State picks and predictions

Prediction

Michigan State 41, Western Michigan 17

Money line

Given the drastic odds in favor of the Spartans, it’s good to PASS on the money line in this contest. Putting $1,000 on Michigan State would net only $55.56, making it an uninspiring wager. The Spartans should be able to come away with a victory over the Broncos to begin the season, but betting on them to win at their current odds isn’t advisable.

Against the spread

Even with the massive spread, MICHIGAN STATE -21.5 (-112) is worth taking. The Spartans are ranked for a reason and Tucker has his team in a position to carry on from where the program left off in 2021. Also, Salopek is an inexperienced QB making a road start, so I lean toward a lopsided win in favor of Michigan State.

Also, Western Michigan is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games and they are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Big Ten matchups. Meanwhile, Michigan State is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games and they’re 5-0-2 ATS in their last 5 home games.

Over/Under

The OVER 54.5 (-108) appears to be a solid play in this contest, especially with Michigan State returning a majority of their offensive starters from a season ago. Western Michigan’s defense was a weakness in 2021 as they allowed 30.6 points per game.

Both of these teams averaged 31-plus points per game scoring last season and the defense of the Spartans is expected to be much improved in 2022. Michigan State could score most of the points in the matchup while Western Michigan could score enough points in garbage time to reach the over.

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Western Michigan Broncos: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, looking ahead to the Western Michigan football season with what you need to know

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Western Michigan football season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Western Michigan Football Schedule
– Western Michigan Broncos Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 4-2 overall, 4-2 in MAC
Head Coach: Tim Lester, 5th year, 24-20
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 97
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 103
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 42

Western Michigan Broncos College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– The offense was a blast and it’ll be every bit as strong again. It finished 16th in the nation overall averaged 480 yards per game and was ninth in scoring as it pumped out 42 points an outing. The ground attack was solid and the downfield passing game was the best in college football, but …

– Top target D’Wayne Eskridge is now a Seattle Seahawk. He averaged over 23 yards per game with eight scores, but 6-4, 185-pound all-star Jaylen Hall returns after averaging 27 yards a pop with seven scores. 5-9 speedster Skyy Moore was second on the team with 25 catches and averaged 16 yards per catch.

The receiving corps has its veteran bomber to keep things going. Kaleb Eleby was terrific in his first year at the helm hitting 65% of his passes with 18 touchdowns and two picks, and he can run a bit, too. No. 2 Nick Kargman is also back.

– The offensive front that was among the best in the nation in pass protection loses Jaylon Moore to the San Francisco 49ers, but it gets back four starters around all-star left guard Mike Caliendo.

The receivers are the stars, but the Broncos have the backs, too. 223-pound junior La’Darius Jefferson ran for a team-high 624 yards and five scores, and 5-9 scooter Sean Tayler added well over six yards per carry. Fellow speedster Jaxson Kincaide is back for his super-senior season after averaging over seven yards per carry and finishing third on the team with 218 yards.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Western Michigan Football Schedule

NEXT: Western Michigan Broncos College Football Preview 2021: Defense

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College Football News Preview 2020: Western Michigan Broncos

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, looking ahead to the Western Michigan Broncos season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Western Michigan Broncos season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Western Michigan Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 7-6 overall, 5-3 in MAC
Head Coach: Tim Lester, 4th year, 20-18
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 84
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 42
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 96

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Western Michigan Broncos Offense 3 Things To Know

– When the offense worked and scored, the team won. Duh – that’s how this whole thing is supposed to work – but WMU was 6-0 when it scored more than 35 points, and 1-6 when it scored fewer.

The rushing offense averaged 2-5 yards per game, the passing attack was efficient enough to get by, and there weren’t a whole lot of giveaways. Consistency, though, will be the key going forward with a group full of potential All-MAC talents.

CFN in 60 Video: Notre Dame Preview
Western Michigan at Notre Dame, Sept. 19
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– No, the running game didn’t get better after losing LeVante Bellamy – who ran for 1,472 yards and 23 scores – but the backfield just got very, very interesting. No. 2 back Sean Tyler is back after averaging close to six yards per carry with five scores, and coming in is La”Darius Jefferson from Michigan State for more thump, and Jaxson Kincaide from Nevada for more splash.

They’ll work behind a line that gets back four starters and was excellent in pass protection and blasted away for Bellamy. Second Team All-MAC performer Mike Caliendo is the best of the bunch at left guard, and Jaylon Moore is a good one at tackle. Replacing all-star C Luke Juriga its the one blip.

– All-star QB Jon Wassink is done, but Kaleb Eleby is ready to go after getting a little work in as a freshman in 2018, but redshirting last year. Backup Griffin Alstott – a former Purdue transfer – is back, too.

All-MAC TE Giovanni Ricci is done along with 50-catchWR Keith Mixon, but Skyy Moore is a dangerous playmaker coming off a team-high 51 catches for 802 yards and three scores.

Also back is D’Wayne Eskridge, who missed most of last year and might end up working as a defensive back. It’s going to be a deep overall group as the season goes on.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Western Michigan Broncos Defense 3 Things To Know

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