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The Michigan State Spartans heads into the 2022 college football season after making it’s future clear, with head coach Mel Tucker signing a 10-year, $95m deal during the offseason.
The Spartans found a high level of success in 2021, capping off an 11-2 campaign with a 31-21 victory over the #12 Pittsburgh Panthers, a game in which their superstar running back and Heisman candidate Kenneth Walker III did not even suit up.
So, is the honeymoon period over, or are the Spartans ready to stay amongst the nation’s elite? Here’s what the oddsmakers think.
Michigan State Regular Season Win Total Betting Lines
Over 7.5 (-120)
Under 7.5 (-110)
Last Season
The Spartans climbed as high as third in the nation last season, riding an 8-0 start and win over #6 Michigan in week eight to reach their highest mark in recent years. They finished the season ranked ninth, sandwiched between #8 Notre Dame and #10 Oklahoma.
One cause for excitement is that quarterback Payton Thorne will be back under center, coming off of a successful sophomore campaign, his first as a starter, during which he threw for 3,240 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The basic defensive identity will also be more established after Tucker made a horde of serious changes in his first two years with the team.
Spartans Key Losses Heading Into 2022
The most glaring blow to MSU’s team is the departure of Walker III, who was selected 41st overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the most recent NFL Draft. In his lone season in green and white, the electrifying back ran for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns and hauled in an extra TD through the air, combining to produce one of the most memorable individual seasons of the year.
The offensive line also took a massive hit during the offseason, losing several sixth-year starters, Kevin Jarvis went to the NFL, and other contributors are either not returning or have transferred out of the portal. The O-line needed a serious rebuild when Tucker’s regime rolled in, and they are once again faced with the peril of having the rebuild the first level of their offense’s infrastructure.
2022 Michigan State Spartans Team Preview
It would be a surprise to see MSU climb as high as third in the national rankings in 2022, but they have a nice chance of competing for the “over” on their win total.
A former four-star recruit and Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger will replace Walker III in the backfield after failing to crack the starting lineup in Madison; Jayden Reed will lead the receiving corps, coming off of a 1,026-yard, 10-touchdown season, and will have even more familiarity with his quarterback.
The defense could also be due for a big upgrade as their talented recruits come through, and the coaching staff continues to forge its basic identity.
2022 Michigan State Football Schedule
MSU starts its season off with a matchup against a high-powered Western Michigan offense before taking on Akron and traveling to Washington.
From there, the Big Ten conference schedule begins, with matchups against Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Penn State serving as the biggest tests for the squad.
2022 Spartans Regular Season Win Total Prediction
The season-opener could be a bit of a trap game, but MSU’s overall talent should be enough to pull them through. They should easily handle Akron and eventually, take down a Washington team that is not in its best shape.
The Spartans should also win conference matchups with Maryland, Illinois, Rutgers, and Indiana, which would give them seven wins; from there, they would only need to win one of their tougher matchups to match their regular-season over line, a feat which they should be able to accomplish either against Wisconsin or Penn State.
The Nittany Lions seem like the most likely target, as their history of underperforming in the business half of the campaign combined with losing elite defensive coordinator Brent Pry should spell their downfall.
Check out our 2022 Utes win total prediction and 2022 Wolverines win total prediction.
