Spartan fans are expecting a win to open the Mel Tucker era, and it appears the sports betting professionals are thinking the same thing.
Michigan State has opened as an 11.5-point favorite over Rutgers in the season opener on Oct. 24, per Bet Online. It was announced earlier this week that kickoff between the Spartans and Scarlet Knights is at noon and the game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Michigan State beat Rutgers 27-0 in last year’s matchup, and have yet to lose to the Scarlet Knights since they joined the Big Ten in 2014. Despite the Spartans’ success against Rutgers over the years, it’s interesting to see MSU as such heavy favorites with so many questions marks entering the upcoming season. Not to mention, that both Michigan State will be working in new head coaches in this matchup.
Stewart Mandel of The Athletic compiled all of the Big Ten Week 1 betting odds from Bet Online in a tweet on Thursday. See who are the favorites for each of the Big Ten season-opening matchups below:
Big Ten and Pac-12 opening week lines, from @betonline_ag.
Big Ten:
Illinois at Wis. (-23½)
Nebraska at OSU (-21½)
Rutgers at Mich. St. (-11½)
Penn St (-7) at Indiana
Iowa (-2½) at Purdue
Michigan at Minnesota (-2½)
Maryland at Northwestern (-11)(1/2)
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 15, 2020
