Michigan State Football Predictions, Betting Tips & Team Preview 2023: WagerTalk Best Betting Guide

Michigan State Football Predictions & Preview 2023:

Expert college football handicapper Ron Marmalefsky runs down the Spartans chances for 2023 and provides expert tips for betting on Michigan State football in 2023. Ron looks at areas to watch, favorability of schedule, offers a predicted record for Michigan State football in 2023 and offers some handicapping tips for betting on the Spartans this season.

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Michigan State Football Bottom Line:

QB play, getting the most out of RB Berger, overachieving in the secondary, and close game kicking are 2023 keys to making a bowl game. 

Everything else I chart suggests a return to at least 6-6. 

I have them at 6-6 or 5-7, with my Big 12 schedule grid calling for 5-7.  If 2022 was a one-year blip then MSU (rightfully) will exceed this prediction, but the Spring transfers of their QB and top WR have me concerned in more than just one way.

Michigan State Football HANDICAPPING TIP:

Rush data here has lost its predictability (47-23) before Mel Tucker. 

I have a large number of notes and potential plays (based on expected data and matchups) on my MSU team sheet, but other them a potential slow ATS start to the season I will let the keys play out before becoming fully committed.  

Michigan State Football Preview 2023: Michigan State Picks for Betting

No, Mel Tucker certainly (in my eyes) is not an 11-2 coach, but maybe he’s also better than last year’s 5-7, and 3-6 in Big Ten play. 

In looking back at my projections, only the pass defense percentage figure was off.  Even the sack ratio was solid.  We’ll all be trying to determine their true place in the conference going into this season.

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Michigan State Football Predictions: AREAS TO WATCH

QB Payton Thorne, along with a couple of other players, made late transfer decisions.  Is Mel Tucker’s “tough love” approach an issue?  The new QB must be completely vetted.  I was a fan of RB Berger at Wisconsin, where he fell out of favor. 

He showed promise here a year ago and is capable of being dominant, IF he stays focused.  The WR unit is down.  The OL looks steady but will now block for a raw QB.  There’s enough defensive talent to be a bit better defending the run, but there’s been two-year issues defending the pass. 

For MSU to improve they will need to better last year’s 66.4%.  My opening projection however, is about the same, but with most of the players who had success sacking opposing QB’s returning, maybe they do improve?  Both (mediocre) PK’s are gone, so perhaps the incoming transfer (0-1) can meet or exceed this low bar.

Michigan State 2023 Predictions, Michigan State Schedule:

Games 3-6 are incredibly interesting to me.  They host powerful Washington (Huskins won 39-28 at home last year).  They face a dangerous, but hardly invincible Maryland team, where Tucker “could” have the coaching edge. 

The series vs. Iowa (road game) has historically been a massive flip a coin affair, although in Covd ’20, MSU got blitzed, 49-7.  With rest, they visit Rutgers, which looks like a tossup, but past history greatly favors the Spartans.  2-2 brings the record to 4-2, and that gives them bowl eligibility hope.  1-3 would be disappointing. 

How will they respond at Minnesota after hosting bitter rival Michigan?  Their talent levels seem similar to me.  Taking care of business vs. the new staff of Nebraska is a must.  I’ll pre-check Nebraska’s progress, and road performances.  Closing games are at Indiana (lost in double overtime last year) and home to Penn State, a team they have fared well against as a host.  This game is NOT in MSU’s home stadium, so that will be interesting.

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