The #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten) end the regular season with a rivalry matchup against #5 Michigan Wolverines (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) in a battle of top-5 teams. Saturday’s matchup will decide the Big Ten East Division on the line and a possible playoff elimination game.
The kickoff for Saturday’s tilt is 12 p.m. EST inside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. Ohio State is an 8-point road favorite, and the over-under total is at 64.5 points.
What to Know – Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State has been rolling since suffering their lone loss of the season to Oregon in Week 2. The Buckeyes have won nine in a row and own a perfect mark in conference play. A win for the Buckeyes will run their winning streak to nine games over the Wolverines.
OSU brings the nation’s highest-scoring offense into Ann Arbor, averaging 47.2 points per game behind 559.5 yards of total offense. The Buckeyes defense has improved as the season’s progressed, holding teams to 19.0 points and 355.6 yards of total offense.
Quarterback CJ Stroud put up video game-like numbers in last week’s blowout victory over Michigan State. Stroud completed 32-of-35 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns. His favorite targets, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, hauled in a pair of touchdown passes each.
The Buckeyes are 6-4-1 against the spread this season and 2-1-1 ATS away from Columbus. Ohio State is 9-4 ATS in their last 13 matchups against Michigan.
What to Know – Michigan Wolverines
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has never beaten the Buckeyes, but on Saturday, his Wolverines have a chance to claim the Big Ten East, position themselves for a shot at the playoffs, and hand their rival a season-ending loss. Michigan’s only defeat came at the hands of in-state rival Michigan State a month ago.
Michigan scores 36.9 points and averages 447.9 yards of total offense per game. Defensively, the Wolverines surrender 16.3 points and 306.8 yards of offense to opposing teams.
The Wolverines produced one of their best offensive games of the season in last week’s victory over Maryland. Cade McNamara threw for 259 yards and pair of touchdowns, and Hassan Haskins carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Donovan Edwards was McNamara’s favorite target, catching ten passes for 170 yards and one score.
This year, Michigan is 9-2 ATS with a 5-1 mark ATS inside the Big House. The Wolverines are 6-2 ATS against Big Ten opponents this season.
The Pick is In
Ohio State looked very impressive last week in the route over MSU, and their play overshadowed the beatdown Michigan laid on Maryland. The Wolverines’ new-look defense will have to play perfectly against an offense that can attack you in multiple ways.
Michigan is a talented team, but the Buckeyes talent gap is too much. The Buckeyes are peaking at the right time and are peaking at the right time. Saturday’s contest won’t be a blowout like last week, but the Buckeyes win comfortably and hand Harbaugh another loss.
Betting Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes -8
