What Will University of Michigan and Michigan State Football Seasons Look Like?

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Will there be full seasons of sport this fall?

That is the major question hanging over the country right now, at both the professional and collegiate levels. With the return of MLB next week, and then NBA and NHL the following week, some of those questions could be answered over the next month.

For professionals, they are getting paid to play. It has worked so far in England for the Premier League and lower divisions without fans, as well as other countries, so there seems to be some hope for American sports.

But what about college football? Some of the conferences around the country have decided to cancel sports for the fall semester, while others have said that the games will be played, albeit on a smaller scale schedule-wise and possibly without fans.

The Big Ten Conference is one that will play football (for now), with just conference games slated and then possibly the College Football Playoff semifinals on January 1, 2021 (Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl). The final is scheduled for January 11, 2021 in Miami.

Those all seem so far away, especially considering the climate of this COVID-19 could change for the worse or better any day.

For now, though, bookmakers are setting odds on the events scheduled, and the two Big Ten Michigan teams have vastly different odds for a variety of wagers.

The University of Michigan has its over/under wins set at 5.5, much lower than rivals Ohio State (8 wins), Penn State (7.5 wins), and Wisconsin (7.5 wins). Four teams are set at 4.5 wins, with three more at 3.5, before you get to Michigan State at 2.5 (the same as Maryland). The pride of New Jersey, Rutgers, pulls up the rear at 1 win.

There are some other interesting wagers on Bet MGM. The state of Michigan is the eighth favorite (+3500) to be the home of the 2021 National Champion.

Can you guess which state is the favorite?

It is a trick question: the field is favored at +175, containing any of the 36 states not listed with odds, in large part due to South Carolina (Clemson). Ohio (+310) and Alabama (+390) are the two single states with the best odds.

U of M is joint ninth favorite (+4000) to bring home the national title, and the Big Ten is third favorite (+270), behind the SEC (+170) and ACC (+245) to win the title.

Spartans’ fans, if you have ultimate faith that your team can shock the state (and the world) and bring home the crown, you can get them at +20000 odds. But that would take a lot of faith.

Is there going to be a full season? I do not know, and I think most people think it is massively up in the air. But right now, there is hope.

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The Lions are not getting much love either before the NFL season. They are +4000 to win the NFC, which is 13th out of 16 teams, only ahead of the Panthers, Giants, and whatever Washington is going to be called.

But as of now, Detroit is actually favored on opening weekend. On the money line, the Lions are -130 over the Bears (+115), with the point spread -1.5 and the over/under 44.

Can the Lions give fans some hope after Week One?

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With the news that sports betting was approved in June for at least one operator, there should be online betting coming to Michigan in the near future.

You can also bet in person at the MGM Grand Detroit, pending the COVID-19 shutdown (follow the news on Banana 101.5).

Michigan is expected to follow in the footsteps of other states like New Jersey, which has become the leading online betting state in the country. But Michigan could make a run at the Garden State soon, once it is up and running.

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