Come Dec. 30, NCAA football fans can’t wait for the exciting Peach Bowl matchup to arrive between the Spartans and Panthers. This showdown will feature two outstanding teams, known for their fantastic offenses. In this article, we have picks for Michigan State vs. Pitt in the Peach Bowl. Which team will be able to lift the trophy at the end of the month thanks to a big-time win?
• What: Peach Bowl
• When: Dec. 30
• Where: Atlanta, Ga.
• Who: Michigan State vs. Pittsburgh
Entering play, Pittsburgh is the slight favorite over Michigan State in the Peach Bowl this time around. This really should come as much of a surprise, as the two teams really are pretty well matched up. Things feel really even here, as both the Panthers and Spartans not only have great offenses, but they’ve been known to silence teams thanks to good defense as well.
For Pittsburgh, things are of course led by the one and only Kenny Pickett. The superstar quarterback has looked like one of the best players in the country, which is why he was in the final running to win the Heisman Trophy this season. Pickett, a New Jersey native, has the ability to throw the ball all over the field, but he also has the ability to make unreal plays with his feet.
| Peach Bowl odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitt to win | -105 | -105 | -105 | -105 |
| MSU to win | -115 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Over to hit | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under to hit | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Meanwhile on the other side of the field, Mel Tucker’s Michigan State will have a tough time trying to contain Pickett, but the fact of the matter is that the team will try and draw up some different plays to try and slow him down. That won’t be easy, but Tucker still knows what they’re doing. They’re not going to put Pickett in a position where he has all the time in the world back there.
Folks really can’t wait for this game and rightfully so. According to the best rated online betting sites, Pittsburgh indeed is the small favorite as they hold -105 NCAA football odds. As for Michigan State, they’re essentially right there with them, checking in at -115. This one really should be close and it’s tough to pick a side. In the end, though, we think Michigan State will be able to come away with a close victory.
With the over/under being set at 60.5 points, the over feels like the smart pick here between Michigan State and Pittsburgh. For the Panthers, Pickett’s strong right arm really has been superb this year. On the season, Pickett has thrown for an unreal 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns. He’s been smart with the football too, only throwing for seven interceptions.
While we do think Michigan State will be able to pull off a win in this contest, that doesn’t mean we don’t think that Pickett won’t have a quiet day. As for the Spartans, their offense is also highlighted by plenty of quality guys. QB Payton Thorne has tossed for 2,886 yards and 24 touchdowns. On the ground, Kenneth Walker has been a beast, running for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“We’re very excited for our players, our program, all of our fans to be selected to this New Year’s Six bowl game,” Tucker, the MSU coach, said. “It’s a very rewarding accomplishment for a 10-win regular season. Our first-ever appearance in the Peach Bowl, Michigan State, and the third ever appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl and the first since 2015. Our fans will be very excited to be in a big-time bowl game, and they’ll show up strong in Atlanta.”
The big question for both of these team’s defenses is whether or not they’ll be able to limit the opposing superstars. For Michigan State, they’ll have its eyes on Pickett, while the Pitt defense will want to stop Walker from breaking free for his usual big gains. That won’t be easy at all. With all of that said, we’re going to rock with the over as our pick for this big matchup.
While the odds for this particular prop bet haven’t been released yet, Pickett should throw for well over 300 yards when Pitt takes on Michigan State in the Peach Bowl. Pickett has thrown for at least 300 yards in five of his last six games. This includes the simply unreal performance on Oct. 30 against Miami when he tossed for more than 500 yards. His play had Pitt’s College Football Playoff odds much better than anyone thought this year.
“In terms of just having no regrets, as soon as I made that decision,” Pickett said on return to Pitt this year instead of going to the NFL. “It’s ‘am I training my ass off every day? Am I competing every single day against myself and trying to become better and knowing that I didn’t come back just to have an average season?’ I didn’t come back just to be average. I came back to give everything I got.”
Pickett has gone above and beyond the expectations for his this season, as he’s looked like one of the best players in the country at the college level. Thanks to this, his stock for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft has really gone up, as countless teams will be hoping to land him in the first round. In terms of whether or not he’ll finish with 300 yards or not, we definitely think he’ll top that.
