When Michigan and Ohio State meet in Ann Arbor Saturday, the two football programs are likely playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The winner of the contest will be a massive favorite to win the Big Ten Championship and qualify for the final FBS four-team playoff.
There’s tremendous stakes Saturday, and each team comes into the game playing elite football. Neither team has lost this year, with both boasting perfect 11-0 records.
For the 12th time this fall, Michigan is the betting favorite. The Wolverines have been favored in 14 consecutive games dating back to last season. For Ohio State, Saturday will be the first time this season the Buckeyes are underdogs.
Wolverines favored without Harbaugh
Michigan is a 3.5-point betting favorite across most sports betting apps in the state, including Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, and FanDuel. BetRivers has the Wolverines as a 4-point favorite.
Michigan has won the last two meetings, but this is the first time in five years the Wolverines have been favored against the Buckeyes. If the spread closes at 3.5 points, it’ll be Michigan’s smallest spread of the season. The only other time Michigan was a single-digit favorite was against Penn State, when the Wolverines won 24-15 as a 4.5-point road favorite.
Ohio State is 7-3-1 against the spread this season, while Michigan is 5-5-1. Ohio State has covered the spread in six of its last seven games.
The total for the game is listed at 46.5 points across most Michigan sports wagering apps, including BetMGM.
The Wolverines will go into the game without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is suspended for the contest. Saturday’s contest is the final game of Harbaugh’s three-game suspension that stemmed from an in-person scouting controversy surrounding the program.
Michigan State large underdog
Michigan State will wrap up a disappointing season Friday at Ford Field against Penn State. The Nittany Lions are one of the Big Ten’s best teams, and they’re favored over Michigan State by about three touchdowns at most Michigan sportsbooks.
Michigan State has won two of its last three games, but the Spartans have been dreadful against the Big Ten’s elite. Michigan State fell to Ohio State 38-3 and to Michigan 49-0.
The Spartans were also demolished 41-7 earlier this season by Washington, which is undefeated as one of the nation’s top programs this fall.
On the season, Michigan State is just 4-5-1 against the spread, but Penn State is an impressive 8-3.
Photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
