College Football Odds: No. 22 Michigan at Michigan State

The Wolverines aren't about to roll over and die against the Spartans. (AP Images)"]

The Michigan State Spartans were supposed to be the sleeper contender in the Big Ten this year, while the Michigan Wolverines figured to have a bit of a rocky road in 2009, but the script has been flipped heading into Saturday's intrastate showdown in East Lansing.

Sparty has dropped three games in row; the losses to Central Michigan and Notre Dame were games that MSU let get away, while last week the Spartan defense was sliced and diced by Wisconsin. Michigan, on the other hand, is taking leaps and bounds in Rich Rodriguez's second year as coach with four straight wins to open the season. This week, however, is UM's first road game of the year, and the Wolverines are thus getting 3.5 points on Bodog's college football odds.

MSU beat UM last year 35-21, but that actually bodes badly for the home team this week, as the Wolverines have not lost to the Spartans in consecutive years since 1967. And Michigan has won three in a row in East Lansing, albeit by just a combined 14 points.

This year's matchup could be one of the highest scoring in years.

Michigan leads the Big Ten in rushing at 240.2 yards per game and in scoring at 37.5 ppg. That bodes well this week, as the team with the most rushing yards in this series has won 37 of the last 41 meetings. The Wolverines, by the way, have scored more than 30 points in four consecutive games for the first time in three years.

MSU has become a passing team behind a QB rotation of sophomores Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol. Those two combined for 396 yards through the air last week against the Badgers, the second-highest total in school history. State leads the Big Ten in passing at 320.8 yards per game and with 13 TDs through the air.

When doing your football betting at Bodog, the difference Saturday should be which defense plays better.

MSU's defense has allowed 10 TD passes this year, most in the Big Ten, but has been solid against the rush. Michigan ranks eighth in the 11-team Big Ten by allowing 243.8 yards per game through the air and also has been shaky against the run.

On the injury front, UM starting QB Tate Forcier, who will get treatment as the visitor for the first time, will start despite being a somewhat limited this week with a bruised shoulder.

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