Michigan State vs. Michigan odds: Early point spread released for Paul Bunyan Trophy rivalry

Michigan and Michigan State are in-state rivals heading in distinctly different directions entering the latest installment in East Lansing come Saturday. And as usual, a lot more than the Paul Bunyan Trophy will be on the line.

Unsurprisingly, oddsmakers are bullish on the Top 5-ranked Wolverines to get the win, even in hostile territory. Michigan opens at 24.5-point favorites per FanDuel over Michigan State for a return to Spartan Stadium for the first time since the Wolverines last lost a conference game. The over/under is set at 49.5.

The Spartans enter the week coming off a disastrous loss on the road to Rutgers. After leading 24-6 in the fourth quarter, the Spartans let the Scarlet Knights reel off 18-unanswered points and made miscue-upon-miscue to let a badly-needed win slip away.

If there’s one upside for Michigan State, it’s that the Spartans might have found their quarterback in Katin Houser. After the game, interim head coach Harlon Barnett announced that Houser, who made the start on Saturday, would be the Michigan State starter going forward.

On the other side of the matchup, the Wolverines enter undefeated and fresh off a 52-7 pasting of Indiana that saw Michigan get out to a slow start before scoring on eight-straight drives to cruise to a win. Michigan is seeking to avenge a 37-33 loss to the Spartans that will have come almost exactly two years to the day prior to Saturday’s matchup: 721 days.

And through seven games, Michigan’s defense has been one of the most impressive units in the entire nation, having yet to allow an opponent to get into a goal-to-go scenario. To date, the most points Michigan has surrendered in a game in 10. In seven games, the Wolverines defense has given up five touchdowns, fewest in the nation.

Plus, it will be the first time the two teams take the same field for the first time since the now-infamous fight in the Michigan Stadium tunnel after Michigan won, 29-7.

And while Michigan is a prohibitive favorite, playing with conference and national title aspirations, it wouldn’t be the first time a Michigan State team rose up to put a major dent in the season of their rival. The Wolverines have myriad advantages on paper, but a little bad luck goes a long way — especially in a heated rivalry showdown.

The bout for Paul Bunyan will kick off at 7:30 p.m. in Spartan Stadium with the game being broadcast on NBC and available via streaming on Peacock.