Michigan opens as a 3.5-point favorite over Ohio State in next Saturday’s highly anticipated rivalry game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, per BetMGM. Here’s what you need to know:
- The total for Michigan-Ohio State is 46.5 points.
- Michigan enters “The Game” with an 11-0 record following its 31-24 victory over Maryland on Saturday. The Wolverines will be without coach Jim Harbaugh, who is serving his three-game suspension as punishment for Michigan’s scouting and sign-stealing scandal.
- Ohio State is also 11-0 after trouncing Minnesota 37-3 on Saturday.
- The Wolverines lead the all-time head-to-head record against the Buckeyes 60-51-6. Michigan is trying to win its third straight game against Ohio State.
What the odds mean
There has been plenty of hype leading up to the Michigan-Ohio State game this year. When the two 11-0 teams meet Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines will be favored.
As one of the marquee games on the calendar, odds had been posted for this game at various times in the season at different sportsbooks. Michigan was favored by six points going into Week 12, but after quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been quiet in the last two games, the line has moved in Ohio State’s direction. McCarthy was 7-for-8 for 60 yards against Penn State two games ago and 12-for-23 for 141 yards with an interception at Maryland.
The last time an Ohio State-Michigan game went under 46.5 points was 2010, when they combined for 44 points in a 37-7 Buckeye win.
This rivalry hasn’t been known for defensive struggles in recent years. In seven of the last nine meetings, at least one of the teams scored 40 points. This year, though, both teams have elite defenses and offenses that haven’t been the well-oiled machines these programs have produced in past seasons.
When Michigan and Ohio State meet it is always a big deal, but the last few years have been with both programs fielding strong teams. This is the second straight year both teams have been 11-0 heading into the massive Thanksgiving week game. Two years ago both teams entered 10-1. This will be the third straight year the Big Ten East has been decided in this game. — Dan Santaromita, staff sports betting editor
Required reading
(Photo: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)
