The NCAA Division I college football season was a rough ride in 2020. With spring football practices and activities canceled due to the pandemic, fans were left uncertain as to whether games would resume as usual in the fall. Meanwhile, Wolverines defensive coordinator, Don Brown, praised his players for how well they handled isolation.
Over the summer, the Big Ten Conference – for which the Michigan Wolverines play in the East Division – announced that they would restrict play to games between teams in-conference due to Covid-19. About a month later, as virus cases continued to climb, the Big Ten announced that all college football would be postponed until further notice.
Come mid-September, as the number of coronavirus cases in the US seemed to be trending downward, league directors happily declared that a conference season – shortened to eight games – would begin in late October. Of those games, the Wolverines won two and lost three. The final three games were canceled due to a nationwide spike in coronavirus cases.
Here’s what Michigan bettors need to know about betting on the Wolverines when football is back in action and retail sportsbooks re-open. By that time, online sportsbook apps will have also launched in the state, so you can add remote sports betting to the menu.
Can Bettors Wager On The Wolverines At Michigan’s Legal Sportsbook?
Yes. Michiganders can not only bet on the Wolverines, but they can also bet on all college games sportsbooks offer lines on. Michigan’s sports betting legislation doesn’t restrict bets on college games like other states’ rules. In fact, Michigan ensured in-person sports betting was ready to go for March Madness. The Wolverines may not have had a new industry launch in time for its next season. However, they can look forward to their own exciting return when sports leagues start back up again.
See our comprehensive Guide To Online Sports Betting In Michigan.
Where Can Bettors Wager At Sportsbooks?
Michigan’s sports betting law requires casinos to receive a sports betting license, either from the State of Michigan or from the relevant tribal authorities. Additionally, sportsbook companies like FanDuel must partner with Michigan casinos to operate in Michigan.
With both retail and online sports betting legal in Michigan, casinos offer the option of betting at an in-person sportsbook or a corresponding sportsbook app. Most sportsbooks, retail or online, offer opportunities to bet on the Wolverines.
Online Sportsbooks Michigan
Sports betting has been legal in Michigan since late 2019, and retail sportsbooks have been open in the state since March 2020. Online sports betting officially launched in the state in late January 2021. Some of the apps now available for Michigan bettors include:
- DraftKings
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- BetRivers
- FanDuel
- WynnBet
- PointsBet
- Four Winds
- FireKeepers
- FOX Bet
- Golden Nugget
- Kewadin
- Parx
- Barstool Sports
Retail Sportsbooks Michigan
Retail sportsbooks opened their doors to Michigan sports bettors in March 2020. Here is a round-up of retail sportsbooks available in Michigan:
- River Rock Sportsbook (Little River Casino & Resort)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (MotorCity Casino Hotel)
- BetMGM Sports Lounge (MGM Grand Detroit)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (Bay Mills Resorts & Casinos)
- Barstool Sportsbook (Greektown Casino)
- Four Winds Sportsbook (Four Winds Casino)
- Dacey’s Sportsbook (FireKeepers Casino & Hotel)
- Stage 131 Sportsbook & Lounge (Gun Lake Casino)
- Onyx Sports Book by Caesars (Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel)
How Do NCAA Division I Odds Work?
When you walk into a sportsbook, you’re likely to see a “points spread” and a “moneyline spread” next to each game. For example, a Wolverines versus Ohio State game might show -7.5/+7.5 and -360/+280, respectively. The first set of numbers (-7.5/+7.5) is the points spread, while the second set of numbers (-360/+280) is the moneyline spread.
The points spread tells you the forecasted winner; a negative sign favors a team and a plus sign disfavors a team. The number represents how many points your team needs to by to win the bet. In this particular case, if you’re betting on the Wolverines at -7.5, that means the Wolverines need to win by at least 8 points. If you take the other side of the bet, you win if the Ohio State lose by less than 7.5 points or win the game altogether.
A moneyline spread, on the other hand, tells you how much money you would need to put down to win $100. If you took the bet on the Wolverines, you’d need to put down $360 to win $100. If you put down $500, you would win $138. Conversely, if you were to bet on the Ohio State and they won, your $100 would be rewarded with an additional $280 return.
What Are Popular Bets To Place On The Wolverines?
College football is full of straightforward bets on the winner and point spread. However, the prop bets are the fun bets. Prop bets are wagers on random events related to the game. Some of them are in-game occurrences, like the first team to score a field goal. Others are completely unrelated to game play, like the length of the national anthem.
If bettors are interested in game play bets–which seems reasonable–then they can make high-risk parlay bets. Parlay bets are made up of multiple bets that must occur in sequence. Bettors who think the Wolverines will win their first three games could make a parlay bet on it. However, bettors won’t win unless the Wolverines come through on all three games. One loss and the bet’s lost.
No matter a bettor’s risk tolerance, there are plenty of bets to suit them.
What Is A NCAA Division I Futures Bet?
A futures bet is a bet on any event that is fairly distant in the future. An example from the NFL would be the Super Bowl. In the NCAA, a typical future bet would be on a playoff outcome or a national championship.
Prop Bets On Wolverines In Michigan
A prop bet is a bet on an in-game event such as a touchdown being scored in the third quarter by a particular player. Another popular prop bet is the number of passing yards thrown in a game by a favorite quarterback.
How To Bet On Wolverines In Michigan
Placing a bet on the Wolverines in Michigan is a fairly easy and straightforward process. If you want to use an online sportsbook, the first thing you’ll need to do is download an app. For anyone using an iOS (Apple) device, you can download the app through the Apple Store. If you’re using an Android device, you might be able to find your choice sportsbook on Google Play (since they recently began allowing gambling apps). If not, you’ll need to download the app from the official website of your chosen sportsbook.
After you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll need to register for an account. This typically requires you to submit personal information such as your name, address, and Social Security number. At the end of the process, you’ll be asked to deposit money into your account. It’s at this point that you will want to make a deposit along with a bonus code (if there is one) to take advantage of the sportsbook’s welcome bonus.
Once you have money in your account, your next step will be to find the odds for the Wolverines on whatever game it is you want to bet on. This will typically be in the College Sports (NCAA Division I) section. If the odds look good to you, use your bet slip to move forward with your wager.
How To Bet On The Championships In Michigan
Betting on the NCAA Division I championship game is pretty simple. The first thing you’ll want to do is look for the odds at your chosen sportsbook, likely in the College Sports NCAA Futures section. If the odds look acceptable, simply enter the amount you would like to wager.
Wolverines Sports Betting Michigan FAQ
How Popular Are The Wolverines In Michigan?
The Wolverines are the most popular Michigan team listed on YouGov’s sports team rankings. (Don’t even ask how far down the Spartans are.) The Wolverines are far more popular than the Lions, but the Tigers are about as popular as the Lions. However, they’re both more than ten spots lower than the Wolverines. Michigan is also unique in its hockey fanbase. Hockey is less popular than football and baseball, but it’s way more popular than professional basketball. Unless March Madness is particularly frenzied, no other sports team matches the Wolverines’ popularity.
Do The Wolverines Have Partnerships With Any Sportsbooks?
The Wolverines don’t have any sportsbook partnerships and they may never have one. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is so opposed to sports betting that it took New Jersey to the Supreme Court over its attempt to legalize sports betting. The NCAA lost, but its rules limit the sports betting’s influence on its members and students. While the average bettor can place bets on the Wolverines at Michigan’s sportsbooks, Wolverine athletes and NCAA members cannot.
What Sportsbook Has The Best Odds For The Wolverines?
With the 2020 season over, it’s hard to say which sportsbook has the best odds. However, many of the top sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel (both of which are available in Michigan), are known for offering attractive odds across the board.
What Is The Closest Sportsbook To The Wolverines’ Home Stadium?
Michigan Stadium, the home stadium for the Wolverines, is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where there aren’t currently any retail sportsbooks. If you want to place a wager, your best bet would be to download one of Michigan’s legal sports betting apps. You can place sports bets from your app form anywhere within state lines.
Does DraftKings Offer Odds On The Wolverines?
Yes. In Michigan, DraftKings does offer wager opportunities for NCAA Division I football, which includes the Wolverines.
Is FanDuel Legal In Michigan?
Yes. In fact, in Michigan, FanDuel offers both a retail sportsbook (at MotorCity Casino Hotel) and an online sportsbook app. Its app is well-known for offering an excellent user experience and top odds.
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