Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) at Michigan (8-3, 5-3)
When: Saturday, November 25th 2017
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Time: Noon ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Ohio State -10/52.5
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook Now! Sign up at Bovada.lv to get a $250 Signup Bonus to bet NCAA Football odds and props!
The rivalry has turned one-sided in the past decade and a half, but the Michigan Wolverines can temporarily erase those bad memories by upsetting the eighth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday at the Big House. The Buckeyes easily took care of Illinois last week 52-14 to clinch a berth in the Big Ten Championship game against No. 4 Wisconsin on December 2nd and hope things fall their way elsewhere if they want to get back to the CFP. The Wolverines have had a down year in their minds and lost quarterback Brandon Peters in the third quarter of the 24-10 setback to the Badgers last week. Peters was carted off with a head injury and is currently in the concussion protocol, and the Wolverines may be forced to turn to John O’Korn, who has thrown one touchdown and five interceptions in 2017. Michigan felt they were robbed in last year’s meeting in Columbus, falling 30-27 in overtime, and have now lost 13 of the last 14 meetings with their arch rivals. Ohio State has also won six of the last seven meetings in Ann Arbor.
Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett, who was named one of three finalists for the Davey O’Brien Award presented to the top quarterback in college football, threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score during the blowout win against Illinois. Barrett has accounted for three touchdowns or more in 10 of his 11 games this season. Running back Mike Weber – a Michigan native – ran for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Fighting Illini to give him four TDs in his last two games. Ohio State’s defense, which ranks eighth in the country (291.5 yards/game), will welcome back linebacker Dante Booker, who has missed the last two games with a concussion.
[ad id=’37018′]
Running back Karan Higdon was held to 20 yards on seven carries against a stout Wisconsin defense after rushing for 408 yards in his previous three games. Fellow back Ty Isaac suffered an undisclosed injury in his first game back since sitting out the previous three with a head/neck injury while starting cornerback Lavert Hill is ready to return after missing last weekend’s loss to the Badgers with a concussion. The Wolverines have gone through many key injuries all season on both offense and defense. Quarterback Wilton Speight, who has missed the past seven games with a fractured vertebrae, is practicing with the team, but is still not ready for game action. The Wolverines ranked third in the nation in overall defense at 261.2 yards per contest and tops against the pass (144.4).
Anything can happen in a rivalry game, especially this one. Despite already clinching a berth in the Big Ten title game, the Buckeyes still have a lot to play for, especially after No. 2 Miami went down on Friday. You are going to see the hardest fought game of the year out of Michigan and their defense is good enough to keep this one close and slow down Barrett. Take the points.
Pick: Michigan +12
TRENDS:
- Buckeyes are 37-15-1 ATS in their last 53 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Buckeyes are 45-21-1 ATS in their last 67 road games.
- Buckeyes are 42-20-2 ATS in their last 64 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Buckeyes are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Buckeyes are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss.
- Buckeyes are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Buckeyes are 2-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Buckeyes are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Buckeyes are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
- Buckeyes are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS loss.
- Wolverines are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games on fieldturf.
- Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
- Wolverines are 0-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-0 in Buckeyes last 6 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 road games.
- Over is 7-0 in Buckeyes last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 6-0 in Buckeyes last 6 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Buckeyes last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Over is 5-0 in Buckeyes last 5 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Buckeyes last 4 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Buckeyes last 6 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 8-1 in Buckeyes last 9 conference games.
- Over is 7-1 in Buckeyes last 8 games overall.
- Over is 7-1 in Buckeyes last 8 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 6-2 in Buckeyes last 8 games in November.
- Over is 5-2 in Buckeyes last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 6-1 in Wolverines last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 5-1 in Wolverines last 6 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 12-3 in Wolverines last 15 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Wolverines last 5 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Wolverines last 7 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 22-9-1 in Wolverines last 32 games overall.
- Over is 12-5-1 in Wolverines last 18 home games.
- Over is 7-3 in Wolverines last 10 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Wolverines last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 14-6-1 in Wolverines last 21 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 18-8-1 in Wolverines last 27 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Buckeyes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Michigan.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Michigan.
- Buckeyes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
