The College Football Playoff semifinals are rapidly approaching, but we’ve got some other New Year’s Six business to take care of first – beginning with Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi just led Pitt to the first ACC title in school history and is preparing to face a Spartans program where he cut his teeth as defensive coordinator under then-coach Mark Dantonio. Michigan State coach Mel Tucker demolished expectations in his second season in East Lansing, as the Spartans finished 10-2 with a win over rival Michigan.

There are still plenty of question marks for this matchup – but star players will be missing on both sides with Kenny Pickett and Kenneth Walker III opting out.

Let’s take a deeper look into this matchup and what it means from a college football betting perspective.

All college football odds are current as of publication. Betting sites may indicate odds changes closer to kickoff.

Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State Key Matchups

Pittsburgh QB vs. Michigan State DBs: Panthers quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Kenny Pickett will not suit up for this one. Pitt may have to turn to backup Nick Patti. Whichever signal-caller does see the field will be licking his chops against this Spartans secondary, which struggled from start to finish. We expect the Panthers to test these defensive backs early and often and continue to chuck it around the field until the Spartans show some improvement in coverage.

Michigan State RBs vs. Pittsburgh Front Seven: Walker was the best tailback in the country this season and would figure to be Michigan State’s best chance at controlling the tempo on offense. But he's out. This is still a largely balanced group without Walker, but it all starts up front behind an offensive line that’s been good but not great.

$1,000 First Bet on Caesars

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 37 Times Today

OH only. 21+. New users and first wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. Bet amount of qualifying wager returned only if wager is settled as a loss. Maximum bet credit $1,000; must be used within 14 days of receipt. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

RELATED: Ultimate Betting Guide To College Football Bowl Games

4 Key Stats For Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State

337.7: Passing yards allowed per game by the Spartans, by far the most in the country.

350.2: Passing yards per game for the Panthers, sixth-best in the nation.

43: Points per game for Pittsburgh, third-best behind Ohio State and Western Kentucky.

6: Bowl wins for Michigan State in eight postseason games since 2011.

Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State Moneyline

Pittsburgh was originally the moneyline favorite when odds were posted after the matchup was announced, with the Spartans available around +135. That flipped when Pickett said he wasn’t sure if he’d play, and Michigan State is now widely considered the favorite at -155.

We jumped on the Spartans when they were still a dog as one of our top college football picks, but we like them to win outright regardless. Michigan State played the far tougher schedule this year and won a lot of close games. That can be viewed as a negative midseason, but we think it’s a great sign in bowl games with so many additional moving pieces.

The Panthers only played to their potential a few times this season and suffered brutal losses to Western Michigan and Miami. There’s a lot of Michigan State alum in the Atlanta area and we expect to see a lot of green and white in the crowd. We also expect a Spartans victory.

Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets + No Sweat NBA SGP Every Day Of The Playoffs

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 44 Times Today

Must be 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State Point Spread

The Spartans were around a three-point underdog on the opening lines and recently became the favorites at top sportsbooks in the US. The line is now Michigan State -3.5 and we first saw it start to shift when Pickett raised the possibility of sitting out.

Pickett would likely shred this secondary and create serious problems for the Spartans, but the backup doesn’t have much game experience. With Pickett out and Walker out too, we’re on Michigan State to cover the spread. You can get Michigan State -2.5 (-110) at BetMGM.

New users at BetMGM should first grab the latest BetMGM bonus code before signing up for an account. It unlocks a risk-free first bet worth up to $1,000 to use on college football bowl games.

Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Loses Promo Code: BOOKIES

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 69 Times Today

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in OH. In partnership with MGM Northfield Park. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Visit BetMGM.com for T&Cs. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State Total

The over/under opened around 62.5 and has been bet down to 56, likely in part due to the Pickett news. We’re not complaining about it and think Over is still the play.

These are two of the most capable offenses in the country, averaging more than 430 yards on offense with serious playmakers across the board. Both teams have also been inconsistent on defense and have weaknesses to exploit.

There are a lot of good skill position guys here, including Pitt wideout and Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison and Michigan State’s Jayden Reed. These offenses have thrived playing the majority of their games outdoors, in chilly conditions, on natural grass. We can’t wait to see what they’ll do with a speedier surface under the dome. Over is the play on the top sports betting apps.

Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets + No Sweat NBA SGP Every Day Of The Playoffs

Tap for Promo Activated! Visit site

Used 6 Times Today

Must be 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.