Washington Huskies odds: favored by 3.5 at Michigan State after Penn State loss

Washington is favored to win at Michigan State on Saturday. On Novig, one of 12 venues on our board, the Huskies are -160 on the moneyline and favored by 3.5 points, with the total at 43.5. Kickoff is 4:15 p.m. ET (1:15 p.m. PT) on BTN. Washington is 5-4 and needs one more win to become bowl eligible.

The Washington team page is our full guide to the Huskies' season. This story covers last weekend's loss to Penn State and how Saturday's game in East Lansing is priced.

A comeback that ran out of time

Penn State won 28-25 at Husky Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, which was homecoming weekend. Washington trailed by 22 at halftime. Penn State Athletics said the visitors scored 21 points in the second quarter. The Huskies then outscored Penn State by 19 after the break. FOX 13 Seattle reported that a 6-yard touchdown pass to Dezmen Roebuck cut the deficit to three. Washington never got the ball back, because Penn State picked up the first downs it needed to run out the clock. Seattle Sports also called it a comeback that fell just short.

The loss ended a two-game road winning streak, after a 38-26 win at Purdue and a 17-10 win at Nebraska. Both teams are now 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. That record leaves Washington out of the Big Ten championship race and the College Football Playoff picture. The question now is whether the Huskies make a bowl.

What changes for the stretch run

At his Monday news conference, coach Jedd Fisch said he felt freer to call "the best play" against Penn State, according to Yahoo Sports. The same report pointed to running back Jayden Limar's solid game and said Washington could lean more on the run in its last three games. Limar missed most of the season with an upper-body injury after Week 1. FOX Sports had reported he was expected back for the Nebraska game.

All four of Washington's losses have come against Big Ten opponents, and three were decided by four points or fewer: 27-24 to Minnesota, 25-21 at USC and Saturday's 28-25 loss to Penn State. The other was a 41-24 home loss to Iowa.

How Saturday is priced

Here is the market on our Washington at Michigan State odds page:

• Moneyline: Washington -160 and Michigan State +153 on Novig. Sportsbook hold runs from 3.5% to 6.3%.
• Spread: Washington -3.5 at -100 on Novig. DraftKings has Washington -3 at -120. On the other side, Michigan State is +3.5 at -111 on Novig and +4 at -115 at BetRivers.
• Total: 43.5 on Novig, with the over at -104 and the under at -111. Pinnacle has the over at 43 (-109), and FanDuel has the under at 43.5 (-110).

A 43.5 total fits Washington's recent games. The Huskies have scored 25 points or fewer in four of their last five. Michigan State is coming off a 28-10 loss at UCLA, according to FOX Sports. This is the first meeting between the schools as Big Ten opponents. They last played in September 2023.

What is legal

Sports wagering is legal only where state law allows it, and most of those states set the age at 21. In Washington state, sports wagering is allowed only at tribal casinos, not on statewide mobile apps. Michigan allows licensed online sportsbooks for adults 21 and over who are inside the state. Prediction markets such as Novig run under their own rules, and whether they are available depends on the state. Check the rules where you live.