Michigan State favored by 31 1/2 over Jax State

Michigan State opens as a 31-1/2 point favorite over FCS opponent Jacksonville State next Friday (August 29).  Here are the odds across all the Big Ten for the opening week:

8-28, 10 pm,  Rutgers at Washington State (-8)

8-28, 7 pm, Eastern Illinois at Minnesota (-15 1/2)

8-29, 7 pm, Jacksonville St at Michigan State (-31 1/2)

8-30, 8:30 am, Penn State at Central Florida (-1)

8-30, 12 pm, Appalachian State at Michigan (-34)

8-30, 12 pm, Western Michigan at Purdue (-12 1/2)

8-30, 12 pm, Ohio State (-19) at Navy

8-30, 3:30 pm, Cal at Northwestern (-11)

8-30, 3:30 pm, Florida Atlantic at Nebraska (-23 1/2)

8-30, 9 pm, Louisiana State (-4 1/2) at Wisconsin

8-30, 12 pm, Youngstown State at Illinois (-10 1/2)

8-30, 12 pm, Indiana State at Indiana (-23 1/2)

8-30, 12 pm, Northern Iowa at Iowa (-16 1/2)

8:30, 3:30 pm, James Madison at Maryland (-21 1/2)

About Braxton Miller 

OK, so it takes one day for the ES to chime in on the Big Green getting second-fiddle in the Big Ten... and then, Ohio State's star player is determined to be injured and out for the season.  Suddenly, Michigan State becomes the leading contender for the Big Ten title.

MSU would have won the Big Ten title (with the Buckeyes playing in East Lansing) with or without Braxton Miller on the field for OSU.  However, it now becomes a lot easier for the Spartans.  Miller  was the most significant threat against Michigan State the past two years - including the major playmaker in the Big Ten title game (which MSU won by double digits, anyways).  The Buckeyes always reload, but Miller was their silver bullet.  

Expect the odds to the National Title game to shift significantly.  Before the Miller injury, Ohio State was a 10-1 favorite, with Michigan State 35-1.   The ES figures Michigan State will move up to about 25-1, and Ohio State will drop to 30-1 or 40-1.

One week til kickoff! Current odds... MSU a TD fave over Boise

Here is what the oddsmakers out of Vegas have today for week 1 of college football:

Michigan State favored by 7 pts over Boise State; Minnesota favored by 8 1/2 at UNLV; Penn State favored by 6 at home over Ohio; Illinois favored by 9 1/2 at home over Illinois, Nebraska favored at home by 19 1/2 over Southern Miss; Iowa favored by 9 1/2 at Northern Illinois; Alabama favored by nearly 2 TDs (12 1/2) over Michigan at Texas Stadium;

Michigan State favored by TD over Boise State in opener

As noted by the consensus line at Vegas Insider, Michigan State is a 7-1/2 point favorite in the season opener against Boise State.  Should be one helluva season opener, under the lights for an 8 pm kickoff on ESPN.  In other Big Ten games, Minny is favored by 10 at UNLV, 'Bama by 11 over Michigan at Cowboys Stadium and Nebraska at home by 17-1/2 over Southern Miss. There are plenty other games, just no lines posted as of yet.  And, Notre Dame is favored by 14 at the US Naval Academy.

GO BIG GREEN!

Michigan State favored by "about 40" over Youngstown State; B1G Ten odds

Michigan State vs Youngstown State? No Line of course, because the Big Green decided to schedule DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.   So, the ES asks YOU (guess at right) by how many points will Michigan State defeat the Penguins. Considering the lines below (Wisky -35, OSU -32) over D1A mid-majors, the ES figures it probably is about a 35 to 45 point spread with the Spartans as Favorite.

Other Big Ten Squads?

Wisky is favored by 35 at home over UNLV; Illinois by 20 at home over Arkansas State; Purdue favored by 18 at home over Middle Tennessee; Boston College favored by 3 home vs Northwestern; Southern Cal favored by 21 at home over Minny; Ohio State favored by 32 at home over Akron; Michigan favored by 14 at home over WMU; Indiana favored by 6 1/2 at Ball State;

Not listed?  Iowa home vs. Tennessee Tech; Penn State home vs Indiana State; Nebraska home vs Chattanooga; 

FYI - Notre Dame favored by 10 1/2 at home over South Florida

And, current odds to win the 2012 BCS Title Game?  Michigan State is only a 40-1 bet.  Bet it!  What is B.S. is the oddsmakers have Notre Dame 20-1... uheam!

What the hell is the most interesting thing about YSU, other than Pengiuns can't survive there?  Um, Major Healey (aka "I Dream of Jeanie") was the grandfather of former YSU baseball shortstop Jackie Healey...

QB Flip Flop, MSU Favored by 41 over Montana State, Statewide Media Previews

Grinz over at Mlive predicts that Michigan State definitely has a flip-flop situation at QB, and Kirk Cousins is getting the nod to start over Keith Nichol based on Cousins paying his dues. The two are co-equals. "Cousins will get the start against Montana State out of deference to the dues he has paid to the program and Nichol will get about as much playing time. Nichol will start what is shaping up as a difficult game against Central Michigan and Cousins will go in off the bench."

The ES still can't find a line on the Michigan State - Montana State game, though our loyal poster spartanpride notes one offshore bookie has the Green as a 41-pt favorite (still can't find it). Florida was noted as a 73-point favorite over FCS/I-AA Charleston Southern by Danny Sheridan, though that line is no longer posted.

The Lansing State Journal has their annual preview, and they predict Michigan State to finish with Iowa tied for 3rd and an 8-4/5-3 record. The Freep's preview has multiple reporters picking MSU either 8-4 or 9-3, and anywhere from 2nd to 4th. The Detroit News picks MSU to finish third, with its team preview out on Thursday.

When the game kicks off, MSU will no longer be among the NCAA elite that have never scheduled out of the Division down to 1-AA/FCS. Currently, the only five NCAA teams to schedule only D1-A: Michigan State, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA and Washington.

Spartans - Bobcats not listed; MSU 75-1 for BCS

The bookies in Vegas have opened up their lines for the debut of the 2009 college football season; alas, MSU isn't listed because we are playing out of the division. According to the Vegas Hilton, Ohio State is a 21.5 pt favorite over Navy, Michigan 12.5 over WMU, Joe Pa by 28 over Akron, Notre Dame by 14 over Nevada, Illinois by 7 over Mizzou, Minny by 6.5 at Syracuse, Wisky by 17 over Northern Illinois, Purdue by 13.5 over Toledo.

By the way, MSU is 75-1 to win the BCS title; Ohio State 12-1, Notre Dame and Joe Pa 30-1, scUM 150-1.