Steve Starr
- Ohio State (11-0) is a 7.5-point home favorite over Michigan (11-0) in their annual Big Ten rivalry game
- The Wolverines lead the Buckeyes in the all-time series 59-51-6 after breaking an eight-game losing streak in 2021
- FOX’s Big Noon Kick Off takes place from Ohio Stadium in Columbus this Saturday
For just the fifth time in 117 all-time meetings and the first time since 2006, the No. 2 Buckeyes and No. 3 Wolverines are both unbeaten heading into “The Game”. Will Jim Harbaugh take down his Big Ten rivals for the second-straight year or will Ohio State rebound from last season’s 42-27 loss to Michigan?
With a spot in the College Football Playoff likely on the line, let’s check the odds on this massive college football matchup on Thanksgiving weekend. Here’s also where your can find the latest NCAAF betting opportunities and our guide to betting on the 2022 NCAAF National Championship.
Ohio State (2) vs Michigan (3)
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Michigan | +7.5 (-115) | +230 | Ov 56 (-110) |
| Ohio State | -7.5 (-105) | -275 | Un 56 (-110) |
How big is this game?
There has never been more than one Big Ten team to make the College Football Playoff since the knockout tournament started in 2015. The schedules for the Buckeyes and Wolverines currently rank as the 37th-and 63rd-toughest in the nation, respectively. That makes this Saturday’s rivalry game a must-win for both Big Ten programs.
Jim Harbaugh is looking to become the first Wolverines coach to defeat the Buckeyes twice in a row since Lloyd Carr in 1999 and 2000. While Ryan Day hopes to renew the dominance that saw Ohio State capture eight straight in the series before last year’s 42-27 defeat in Ann Arbor. Prior to that one, OSU won the previous three matchups against Michigan by an average of 21 points.
CJ Stroud through 10 weeks:
• 2,750 passing yards (1st in Big Ten)
• 34 passing TD (1st in CFB)
• 188.2 passer rating (1st in CFB)
• 90.9 QBR (1st in CFB)The Buckeyes QB is playing like a first overall pick 👀 pic.twitter.com/7xsIXXYTkF
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) November 19, 2022
What happened last year?
Michigan ran all over Ohio State in 2021, totaling 297 rushing yards on 7.2 yards per carry. Assuming Blake Corum is healthy, Jim Harbaugh will likely employ the same game plan this year. The Heisman contender is averaging 134.9 yards per game and his 17 rushing touchdowns is tied for second-most in the country.
Ryan Day brought in Jim Knowles to firm up his defense after last year’s loss. The former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator has improved the Buckeyes from No. 59 in total defense in 2021 to No. 9 this season. Opponents are averaging 89 fewer yards per game, with rushes over five yards plunging from 37 percent to 32 percent, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Buckeyes vs Wolverines
No. 2 Ohio State is a 7.5-point home favorite over No. 3 Michigan in Columbus on Saturday. The winner of “The Game” will play either Iowa, Purdue or Illinois for the Big Ten championship. A victory would also earn the Buckeyes their fifth trip to the CFP, or the Wolverines’ their second-straight appearance in the tournament.
While both programs rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense, this is a battle between the Buckeyes passing game and the Wolverines’ run game. Current Heisman favorite C.J. Stroud has thrown 35 touchdowns and just four interceptions in 2022. The potential top-five NFL Draft pick also performed admirably in last year’s loss in Ann Arbor, passing for 394 yards, two TDs and no picks.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is special 🔥
(via @MarvHarrisonJr) pic.twitter.com/iive44DUQr
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 22, 2022
Best Bet
Michigan ranks No. 1 in the country in total defense (232.8) and scoring defense (11.2). And they may catch a break if wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba misses the contest with injury. However, OSU got star tailback TreVeyon Henderson back in the lineup last weekend, and still have true sophomore receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who has 1,037 receiving yards and 11 scores this season. The Wolverines are also missing No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo from last year’s defensive line.
We like the Buckeyes to cover the spread on Saturday and resume their recent dominance in the rivalry. (Ryan Day’s club is 4-0-1 ATS over its last five home games.) We’ll also take the UNDER 56 (-110) as Michigan has gone over the total in just two games in 2022.
Final Score Prediction: Ohio State 34, Michigan 20
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