Michigan State football: Projected 2024 betting win total released

The projected win total for Michigan State football, and the rest of the Big Ten, has been released by FanDuel.

The offseason is in full swing for Michigan State football, but that hasn’t stopped everyone from looking ahead to the start of the season in the fall. Many people, including myself, have already predicted the Spartans’ final record, and now we can bet on it if we choose to do so.

NEW: 2024 College Football Big Ten Win Totals👀

Ohio State: 10.5
Oregon: 10.5
Michigan: 9.5
Penn State: 9.5
USC: 7.5
Washington: 7.5
Nebraska: 7.5
Iowa: 7.5
Maryland: 7.5
Wisconsin: 6.5
Rutgers: 5.5
Northwestern: 5.5
Michigan State: 5.5
UCLA: 5.5
Illinois: 5.5
Indiana: 5.5… pic.twitter.com/YNnYLvp9ww

— On3 (@On3sports) February 11, 2024

FanDuel released their preseason win totals and the Spartans are set at 5.5 wins. On paper, this seems like a fair line as MSU has failed to make a bowl game two straight years. However, I think this win total is a little low for many reasons.

Easier schedule

The Spartans have had one of the most difficult schedules in the country the last few seasons, but that isn’t the case this year. Don’t get me wrong, the schedule is still tough, but it’s a lot easier than we are used to.

The Spartans will be favored in all three non-conference games, something that couldn’t be said the last two years with Washington. They very easily could get halfway to hitting over 5.5 wins just from the non-conference games.

Michigan State’s conference schedule is also easier than in years past as well. It still faces both Ohio State and Michigan as well as a trip to Oregon, but the other six Big Ten games are manageable. Indiana, Rutgers, Purdue, and Iowa at home are winnable as well as road games against Maryland and Illinois. Surely there are at least three wins in that bunch to get to six.

Could’ve made a bowl game the last two years

Last season Michigan State football finished 4-8, but two of those losses maybe should’ve been wins. The losses at Iowa and Rutgers could’ve easily been wins had the Spartans made a few more plays than they normally do.

Also looking back to 2022, the Spartans should’ve won six games as well. They finished 5-7 but were an easy field goal away from beating Indiana and getting their sixth win. So if the schedule is easier than the last two years, surely they can hit six wins considering they maybe should have in 2022 and 2023.

Better overall team

I also think Michigan State this year is just an overall better team. Aidan Chiles will be a big step up at quarterback and the Spartans also have other transfers who will make an immediate impact as well. Not only are the players better overall, but I think the coaching staff will, too.

All of us fans know how frustrating some of MSU’s coaches have been recently. Horrible play-calling and schemes have become the norm in East Lansing. However, Jonathan Smith is bringing in a staff that has found a lot of success. A lot of his Oregon State staff followed him to East Lansing and we know how successful they were there. So a step up with the players and coaching staff should lead to winning more than 5.5 games.

Off-the-field distractions

I think everyone is excited about this heading into next season. It’s no secret that all the Mel Tucker drama impacted the team last season. Now that the program has a clean slate, they can focus solely on winning games and not all the off-the-field distractions.

Will that result in more wins? I don’t know. But it definitely won’t hurt MSU’s chances of reaching a bowl game this year.

By no means is this financial advice, but Michigan State football at 5.5 wins seems very low to me. I’m biased so you have to account for that as well, but betting the over for MSU’s win total seems like a safe bet this year.