Ohio State at Michigan Line

Written by Steve Janus

This Saturday the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines will host the Ohio State Buckeyes in one of the biggest rivalry games in all of college football. While Michigan can take home a share of the Legends Division with a Michigan State loss, the Wolverines earlier loss to the Spartans will keep them out of the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes are also out of the mix in the Leaders Division, which will allow both teams to lay everything on the line in this one. Ohio State has won seven straight in the series, including a 37-7 win at home last season. This will mark the first time Michigan has been favored since they beat Ohio State 35-21 back in 2003.

Taking a look at the week 13 college football spreads, oddsmakers currently have Michigan Favored by 8-points over Ohio State.

Ohio State:

The Buckeyes opened up conference play with a couple of tough losses against Michigan State and Nebraska, but would respond by winning three straight, including that impressive 33-29 win over Wisconsin. Things have taken a turn for the worst the past couple weeks. Ohio State lost 23-26 in overtime at Purdue and were upset by Penn State 14-20 at home this past Saturday to fall to 3-4 inside the conference. The one thing to keep in mind is the Buckeyes four Big Ten losses have all been by 7-points or less.

Ohio State has struggled on offense all season long, and their inability to put up points cost them against the Nittany Lions. While Brazton Miller rushed for a team-high 105 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts, but his inability to throw the ball was the difference in this game. Miller went just 7 of 17 for 83 yards. He did hit Jake Stoneburner on a 7-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, but couldn’t make a play when the Buckeyes needed it most down the stretch.

Simply being able to run the ball would be enough to put up plenty of points against the Wolverines the past few years, but this isn’t the same Michigan defense. The Wolverines are 14th in the country in total yards allowed, giving up just 312 yards a game. Still, if Ohio State is going to win this game, it is going to come down to their running game and defense.

Michigan:

While the Wolverines can’t win the Big Ten Championship this season, they can lock in their 10th win of the season if they can beat Ohio State. It would be the first time Michigan has reached double-digits in wins since going 11-3 back in 2006. Their only two losses this season have come on the road against Michigan State and Iowa. With their 45-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday they improved to 7-0 at home, which is a big reason why they are favored by more than touchdown against the Buckeyes.

Junior quarterback Denard Robinson got the offense going with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Gallon, and would keep them going the rest of the way. Robinson finished 11 of 18 for 180 yards and two touchdowns, and added another 83 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Robinson wasn’t the only one having his way with the Nebraska defense, Fitzgerald Toussaint piled on 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 attempts.

The Wolverines offense comes in averaging just under 232 yards a game on the ground, and I expect them to come in and try and run the ball right at the Buckeyes the entire game. Ohio State just gave up 239 yards on the ground in their loss to Penn State, and are giving up over 140 yards a game on the season.

Betting Trends:

Ohio State is 21-4-1 ATS in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Michigan is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Be sure to stop back and check out who Steve Janus has picked to win this week in college football.

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