Michigan State hosts Central Michigan in a Week 1 matchup on Friday evening to help kick off the 2023 college football season. Both sides are hungry to start the season with a win after they produced losing campaigns in 2022. Michigan State went 5-7, while CMU had a 4-8 record last year. These schools last matched up in 2018 when Michigan State secured a 31-20 win over the Chippewas. The Spartans are 8-3 all-time against the Chippewas
Kickoff at Spartan Stadium is at 7 p.m. ET. The Spartans are 13.5-point favorites in the Central Michigan vs. Michigan State odds via the SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is is 45. Before locking in any Michigan State vs. Central Michigan picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan State vs. CMU and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college football odds and trends for CMU vs. Michigan State:
- Michigan State vs. Central Michigan spread: Spartans -13.5
- Michigan State vs. Central Michigan over/under: 45 points
- Michigan State vs. Central Michigan money line: Spartans -577, Chippewas +420
- MSU: Michigan State has 3-6-3 ATS last season
- CMU: Central Michigan has 4-7-1 ATS last season
- Michigan State vs. Central Michigan picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Central Michigan can cover
CMU has athletic defenders in the secondary. The Chippewas were ranked fifth in the MAC in pass defense (221.9) last year. Junior defensive back Donte Kent has exceptional ball skills. In 2022, the Pennsylvania native was second in the MAC in pass deflections (15) along with 51 total tackles. Kent recorded two-plus pass breakups in six games last season.
Junior safety Trey Jones does a good job hovering around the box and being a sound run defender. Jones finished the season, second on the team in total tackles (85) and first in interceptions (2). Sophomore defensive back De'Javion Stepney provides CMU with yet another nimble defender. Stepney gets his head around when finding the football, logging 40 tackles and eight pass breakups in 2022. See which team to pick here.
Why Michigan State can cover
Michigan State's defensive line has some relentless rushers. The Spartans had three players record at least four sacks in the 2022 season. Junior defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr. uses his strength and power to push the pocket and get into the backfield. He tallied career highs in tackles (40), tackles for loss (9) and sacks (4) in 2022. Senior linebacker Aaron Brule utilizes his speed to get around the corner.
Brule is able to get downhill quickly. The Louisiana native recorded four total sacks in 2022, with three of them coming in the final four weeks of the regular season. Junior defensive lineman Avery Dunn continues to provide depth for the Spartans. Dunn owns good strength and finished last season in style. The Ohio native had a sack in three straight outings to end the season. See which team to pick here.
How to make CMU vs. Michigan State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 50 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins CMU vs. Michigan State, and which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that's up nearly $2,500 on top-rated college football spread picks since its inception, and find out.
