The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (-3.5) are paying a visit to the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on FOX and kickoff for this key Big 10 showdown is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Michigan is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 3.5 points. The Wolverines are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Buckeyes are +155. Should one side can create a bunch of points in the early stages it would generate a solid live betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 58.5 points.
The Wolverines have gained 4.5 units so far and are 6-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under mark of 5-5-1. The Buckeyes are down 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-6-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 5-6.
The Wolverines are 10-1 straight up (SU), including 8-0 SU against conference opponents. The Buckeyes are 10-1 SU overall and are also 7-1 SU in conference play.
When these two teams faced each other last year, Ohio State earned the win 31-20.
The Wolverines are coming off a resounding 31-20 win over Indiana last week. Shea Patterson completed 16-of-28 passes for 250 yards, as well as one TD and an interception. Karan Higdon (101 rushing yards on 21 attempts, one TD) and Chris Evans (44 yards on 10 carries) led the ground attack while Nico Collins (three receptions, 32 yards) and Donovan Peoples-Jones (two catches, 30 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Ohio State enters this one having just earned a 52-51 win over Maryland. Dwayne Haskins completed 28-of-38 passes for 405 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. J.K. Dobbins (203 yards on 37 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Haskins (59 yards on 15 carries, three TDs) led the running game while Johnnie Dixon (six receptions, 102 yards) and Terry McLaurin (four catches, 118 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Michigan has run the ball on 63.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Ohio State has an overall rush percentage of 50.2 percent. The Wolverines have produced 219 rush yards/game (including 231 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 24 scores on the ground this year. The Buckeyes are logging 182 rushing yards per game (162 in conference) and have 20 total rush TDs.
It appears that the Wolverines could hold an edge in terms of efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 5.0 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.3 to opponents. The Buckeyes have rushed for 4.4 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 4.5 to opponents.
The Wolverines offense has averaged 210 yards in the air overall (211 per game against conference opposition) and has 20 passing scores so far. The Buckeyes have put up a ridiculous 359 pass yards per outing (355.6 against Big 10 foes) and have 37 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Michigan seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 112 rush yards and 123 pass yards per game. The Ohio State D has allowed 237.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 161.3 yards per game on the ground. The Wolverines are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 2.54 to opponents, while the Buckeyes have given up a 6.13 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Patterson has put up 1,917 yards on the year, and has connected on 66 percent of his 228 attempts with 15 scores through the air and only four interceptions. He has an 8.03 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 9.91 over the last two outings.
The Wolverines have tried to control the clock by feeding their running backs early and often. Backfield mates Chris Evans (295 rush yards, three rush TDs, 91 receiving yards) and Karan Higdon (1,064 rush yards, eight rush TDs) have been significant focal points in the offensive gameplans for Michigan.
Dwayne Haskins has connected on 270-of-385 passes for 3,458 yards, 35 TDs and seven INTs for Ohio State. His ANY/A stands at 9.57 for the season and 8.15 across his last two games.
The Buckeyes also like to rely on their backfield. Along with Terry McLaurin (516 receiving yards, nine receiving TDs), J.K. Dobbins (887 rush yards, eight rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Mike Weber (711 rush yards, four rush TDs, one TD) have seen plenty of touches recently.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes
SU Winner – Michigan, ATS Winner – Michigan, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Michigan’s last game going into it was 53. The under cashed in the team’s 31-20 victory over Indiana.
Michigan has produced 5.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.0 over its last two.
Ohio State has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three contests and only 4.0 over its last two.
Ohio State has lost seven fumbles this season while Michigan has let three get away.
Over its last three matchups, Michigan is 1-2 ATS.
The O/U for Ohio State’s last matchup was 61.5. The over cashed in the 52-51 victory over Maryland.
Over its last three contests, Ohio State is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Wolverines offense has produced 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Buckeyes have put up 11 such plays.
The Michigan defense has allowed three pass plays of 40+ yards, while Ohio State has given up 10 such plays.
The Michigan offense has created 20 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Ohio State has created 13 such runs.
The Wolverines defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Buckeyes have given up 20 such runs.
Each team defense has produced 31 sacks this season.
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