As they prepare to face off in a marquee matchup, the rivalry between Michigan State and Michigan continues. (1:17).
Michigan may be divided, but the bettors in Michigan are still leaning green about what is expected be the most heavily-bet college football game of the season.
No. 6 Michigan is a 4-point favourite over No. 8 Michigan State will be hosting Saturday's East Lansing showdown between these undefeated rivals. For $100, you must stake $185 to bet on the Wolverines at the money line. On Thursday, nine bets on the Spartans underdog at DraftKings' Michigan sportsbook were placed on each money-line wager on the Wolverines.
Cameron Steinagel (chief financial officer at MGM Grand Detroit), stated that this game would be busier than any other college game, in fact any other football game, this year. "This is bringing in more money than any Lions match."
While Michigan State has received the majority of early money from local punters, the national betting market is more evenly matched. The Spartans accounted for 94% of the wagers at Caesars Sportsbook, Michigan. However, 55% of all Caesars Sportsbooks had Michigan State as their favorite team.
"Handle Michigan for this match will be huge, especially since the Detroit Lions, the other Michigan team, have not won a single game," Craig Mucklow (vice president of trading at Caesars Sportsbook), stated in a release. "So, the local focus is huge on this game."
Multiple sportsbooks across the nation had Michigan-Michigan State as the most popular game. About 30% of all the money placed on the game at Caesars Sportsbook nationwide was from Michigan-based bettors heading into the weekend.
Both teams have exceeded all expectations, increasing interest in an already intense rivalry. This will be the first time since 1964, that both schools have been ranked among the top 10 in the game's 114 meetings.
Michigan State opened at 1,000-1 to win its national championship. It is now 80-1. Michigan was 80-1 to win in the offseason, and is now 40-1.
