Saturday, Nov. 30
12:05 p.m. Eastern, 9:05 a.m. Pacific
FOX
The Game, the annual battle between Michigan and Ohio State, is an American sports classic. It might not be the nastiest rivalry – Auburn-Alabama is more ferocious – but it has the most established television presence in this country over the past half-century. For many years on ABC, before the 1984 Supreme Court ruling which liberalized the college football television landscape, it was Michigan-Ohio State at noon Eastern and then UCLA-USC in the mid-afternoon. Michigan-Ohio State is still the midday Saturday ritual at the end of November and the conclusion of a college football regular season. One of the reasons this rivalry is special is that The Game almost always means something significant. For many decades, the winner went to the Rose Bowl as Big Ten champion.
In more recent years, at least one of the two teams – if not both – has had a College Football Playoff berth on the line. This year, Ohio State is probably in the playoff even if it loses, though the Buckeyes would miss out on the Big Ten Championship Game if they somehow lose to Michigan as a 21-point favorite.
Obviously, Ohio State losing to a mediocre Michigan team – easily the worst at UM since 2020 – is not very likely in Columbus. The real question is whether Michigan can keep this game close or whether this will be a blowout in which Ryan Day and the Buckeyes vent a lot of pent-up frustrations after three consecutive losses to the Wolverines.
We had the scenario last week in which Day and OSU scored a late tack-on touchdown against Indiana. The Buckeyes could have taken a knee, but they didn’t. That suggests they will run up the score if they can. It’s one of many fascinating plot points in this game.
Michigan Wolverines-Ohio State Buckeyes Odds
Spread: Michigan +21 (-110), Ohio State -21 (-110)
Total: 43.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: Michigan +900
Hear T.J. and Gary break down this epic rivalry 2024 edition on the “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Will Wolverines hang in?
In 2024, Michigan had a non-functional offense for a good portion of its season. More recently, however, quarterback Davis Warren has grown as a passer and has shown a certain degree of competence. Michigan is a better team than it was in October. The Wolverines have grown up to a certain degree. However, they have to show they can play well against Ohio State, a top-three team. Crushing a bad Northwestern team doesn’t prove Michigan has turned the corner, only that Michigan is now an average team; it was a bad team several weeks ago when it got hammered by Illinois.
In trying to determine whether OSU covers the spread, the real challenge will be Will Howard and the Ohio State passing game against the Michigan pass rush. Howard is a decent quarterback with running capabilities. Can Howard become elusive in the pocket and either run for first downs or buy time to throw to receivers? If Howard can do that, everything opens up for the OSU offense. We can then think about a 35-point win for the Buckeyes. However, Howard is not a brilliant passer. It would take just one or two interceptions leading to Michigan points to instantly derail hopes that the Buckeyes will blow the lid off this game.
Our lean is to Michigan, but since Ohio State is the far better team, we advise you either stay away for consider an in-game bet.