With both teams unbeaten and ranked in the top 10, the game is expected to shatter all of Michigan's sports betting records.
Getty ImagesThis week, the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans football matchup is the talk of the state. The game is just two days away and the heightened interest is reverberating through the local sports betting industry.
With both teams unbeaten and ranked in the top 10, the game is expected to shatter all of Michigan's sports betting records. Behind February’s Super Bowl, it could be the state’s most-wagered on single sporting event this calendar year, the first for online sports betting in Michigan, according to Matt Schoch, analyst for PlayMichigan.com.
"Games with this much local interest don’t come along very often, and it is undoubtedly the first of its kind since Michigan launched sports betting in 2020," said Zack Hall, media relations lead for Catena Media and PlayMichigan.
On Tuesday, Michigan stood as a 4.5-point favorite, according to a consensus of Michigan’s most prominent legal online sportsbooks — including BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet and BetRivers. You can find up-to-the-minute odds here. That line has settled after Michigan opened Sunday as a 4-point favorite.
"Michigan vs. Michigan State is already dominating college football betting," said Jason Scott, BetMGM vice president of trading, in an email. "This matchup of two top-10 teams is the most bet game of the week at BetMGM. We’re seeing strong interest from Michigan bettors in this rivalry game, with (the) majority of tickets and handle on Michigan State."
Beyond the spread, the game will take on added importance for the state’s sports betting industry.
"It’s difficult to project just how much in wagers this game will bring in before Saturday’s kickoff, but we know it will be in the millions of dollars," Hall said. "In large part because of this game, Michigan will almost certainly shatter all of its sports betting records in October."
For comparison, the Top-10 matchup between Iowa and Iowa State earlier this season was a crucial component in helping Iowa’s sportsbooks attract a record $210.4 million in wagers in September. That matchup topped the state’s previous record of $161.4 million by more than 30%.
And although the one-time boost in wagering is essential, this game also creates a long-term opportunity for sportsbooks.
"An in-state college game with this much interest presents an opportunity for operators to connect with local fans in a way that even the Detroit Lions cannot," Schoch said. "College fans’ passion for their team uniquely shows up in their betting choices, and this local connection will draw more interest from casual customers, in particular. In addition, the game should send fans pouring into Detroit sportsbooks on Saturday, creating an atmosphere that should be a lot of fun."
You can visit here to see Schoch's suggestions for the best Michigan sports betting promos for the rivalry showdown on Saturday.
