It’s the final week of the regular season in college football, and there’s no bigger game on the slate than The Game as the Michigan Wolverines (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) on Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff from the Horseshoe (aka Ohio Stadium) in Columbus is scheduled for 12:00 pm EST and will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
The winner of this classic rivalry game will advance to the Big Ten Championship and likely secure their spot in the College Football Playoff, while the loser will have to await their destiny.
Read on for our Michigan vs Ohio State Betting prediction.
Last Game Records
Michigan hits the road for their regular-season finale after barely escaping with a win over Illinois inside the Big House last Saturday.
They survived the upset bid with a field goal in the final seconds to keep their perfect 11-0 season alive.
Ohio State had their struggles last week as well, fighting off Maryland to win by 13, though the final margin was the widest of the game and came as a result of a fumble return for a score as the clock expired.
The Buckeyes, too, come into this one with a flawless 11-0 record.
Matchup Information
Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Analysis
We noted how both programs survived Week 10 scares as each school fell victim to the look-ahead factor.
When considering our Michigan vs Ohio State Betting prediction, recall that both teams were sizable favorites in their respective wins, but the Wolverines were laying 17.5 points while the Buckeyes were 27.5-point chalk.
Ohio State trailed the Terps at halftime, and UM found themselves behind in the fourth quarter.
Just as both schools appeared to underestimate last week’s opponents, the potential for a letdown scenario will be real next week too.
The winner of The Game will likely be a sizable favorite in the conference championship against whoever emerges from the Big Ten West, a group that includes Minnesota, Iowa, and Purdue.
Be sure to monitor college football standings at the conclusion of this weekend.
Michigan Preview
The Michigan Wolverines football team heads into this matchup as the third-ranked team in the country and boasts the third-shortest odds (+800) to win the National Championship.
They feature one of college football’s best defenses, as the 11.7 points per game allowed is the second-fewest in the nation, behind only top-ranked Georgia.
Maize & Black and Blue
They’ve given up more than 20 points once all season, a seven-point win over that pesky Maryland program back in September. The knock on Michigan entering this one is their NCAA football schedule.
This will be by far their toughest test all season, having played only one ranked team on their entire slate, which wound up as a blowout win over then-10th-ranked Penn State at home.
Now they face the Buckeyes and could potentially be without Heisman hopeful Blake Corum.
The running back left last week’s game in the second quarter with a knee injury and only had one carry in the second half. His status is perhaps the most important to monitor leading up to game day.
Ohio State Preview
Ohio State hasn’t lost two consecutive games in this rivalry since 1999 and 2000. But that’s the situation they find themselves in this year after losing to their rival in the snow in 2021.
Rule the Day?
Last year’s loss knocked the Buckeyes out of the top four and the College Football Playoff and into the Rose Bowl instead, where they squeaked by Utah.
Instead, it was Michigan who represented the Big Ten in the CFP as Ryan Day lost for the first time to the school’s biggest rival and any conference game for that matter since he took the head-coaching job.
The key Ohio State Buckeyes stats to look at have to center around CJ Stroud, who is tied for the most touchdown passes in the country with 35.
Updates
Some key trends to consider when evaluating our Michigan vs Ohio State Betting prediction:
- Michigan is 5-0 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
- The Wolverines are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games in November.
- Ohio State is 4-0-1 ATS in their last five home games.
- The Buckeyes are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Michigan vs. Ohio State Betting Preview
Ohio State is a 7.5-point favorite in The Game with an over/under of 57.5 points.
Oddsmakers made the Ohio State Buckeyes a 4 or 5-point fave on a neutral site, so they are getting an additional three points for playing at home.
It’s worth noting when looking at college football odds that the total has gone well over 57.5 points in each of the last three years, with the two programs combining for 69, 83, and 101 points in each of the last three meetings, respectively.
Michigan vs. Ohio State Betting Prediction
This is arguably one of the most anticipated college football matchups of the entire season.
Corum’s status is the key for potential line movement here. Among college football injuries, it might be the most important.
If he is ruled out, the number will likely rise, but if he’s able to play, it could only drop to the key number of 7.
The revenge factor is real, and while we think the Buckeyes will come out on top, Michigan’s defense is too stingy to lose by more than a touchdown. Give us the points in what should be a classic.
NCAAF Pick: Michigan +7.5 (-110)
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