Michigan Football vs Ohio State: Odds and a prediction for College Football Week 13

Michigan football will battle Ohio State in a monster game. The winner heads to the Big Ten title game and here’s a look at the odds and a prediction against the spread.

There is nothing quite like Michigan football against Ohio State.

It’s true that there are many great rivalries in college football. But it’s hard to find a matchup that. has meant more and the fact that the Buckeyes and Wolverines have played more game against each other as top-5 opponents than anyone else backs that up.

“The Game” used to always decide the Big Ten championship and while it took a few years, Jim Harbaugh has gotten Michigan football back to that level. This is the fifth time in Harbaugh’s eight years that the two teams will be ranked in the top 12.

This will be the fourth meeting in which the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game will go to the Big Ten title game. Harbaugh is 1-2 in those games but did win last year. The two wins by the Buckeyes came via Urban Meyer.

Ryan Day did win his first game against the Wolverines in 2019, but the 2020 game was canceled. So he’s 1-1 and this will be the first time Michigan football has come to the Shoe since the 62-36 debacle in 2018.

That loss gave Michigan football an identity crisis. Harbaugh tried to install the speed-and-space offense of Josh Gattis, before reverting to more of a “power spread” last season.

Gattis was calling the plays but it was Jim’s offense. Anyone could see that. Hassan Haskins ran all over Ohio State and we all know the rest.

It sets the stage for an epic showdown between 11-0 teams on Saturday. This feels similar to the 2006 Game when Michigan and Ohio State were No. 1 and No. 2.

The Wolverines don’t know if Blake Corum is going to be available or Donovan Edwards. Ohio State is dealing with injury issues too but C.J. Stroud is playing and here’s a look at the odds for Michigan football vs Ohio State, as well as a prediction against the spread.

Michigan football vs Ohio State odds

The line is pretty similar to what it was last season. Ohio State is favored by 7.5 points according to FanDuel. The over/under is 57.5 and the money line is +215 for Michigan and -315 for Ohio State.

(Odds are subject to change)

Michigan football vs Ohio State prediction

Jim Harbaugh was pretty coy when it came to updating injuries. He said he had no update on Blake Corum, Edwards, Luke Schoonmaker, or Mike Morris. It feels like Morris and Schoonmaker will be ready and I think Edwards could have played last week.

Corum is the one I’m watching. He said he was good to go and he went back into the Illinois game. I have to think he’s doing to dress out, warm up and do what he can.

Maybe he dresses out and is used as a decoy. Or maybe he reverts to more of a short-yardage back because he’s freaking elite when it comes to getting those short-yardage conversions that were crucial in the win last year — Hassan Haskins didn’t miss a single one that I can remember.

It’s a bummer that Corum is hurt because he wasn’t 100 percent last year against Ohio State. The offensive line should be fully healthy though. Trente Jones is 100 percent and it should be the original starting five.

Those guys are going to have to play the game of their life and I think they will play damn well. I also think we’ll see a better version of J.J. McCarthy.

I remember in 2016 when Wilton Speight was hurt and we didn’t know if he would play vs Ohio State. He wound up getting the start after missing the week before and instead of a run-based gameplan, the Wolverines came out throwing.

I’d love to see that again. Throw on first down more and use the play-action to your benefit because Michigan won’t win this game if McCarthy doesn’t get comfortable.

On the other side of the field, Michigan has to find a way to slow down C.J. Stroud. The formula is simple and it’s all about the pass rush.

It will be important to hold up against the run too and people forget that Ohio State, like in the 2019 game, has been able to run all over the Wolverines in many of these wins.

That didn’t happen last year and if the run defense holds up on Saturday, Michigan will have a better chance to pressure Stroud. Can Mike Morris have a game like Aidan Hutchinson?

I don’t see him getting three sacks. I do see the pass rush being effective but, the Ohio State offense scored 27 last year and will get over 30 this time around.

Michigan football is going to be my pick against the spread — I see the Wolverines losing by a touchdown (the spread is 7.5) but all year I’ve predicted Ohio State would win the game and with Corum less than 100 percent, I see no reason to change that prediction.