Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines (+12, 47.5)
The most storied rivalry in college football was expected to have monumental implications in the teams’ season finales. But “The Game” between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines has lost its glamour and become just another early-morning Big Ten bout.
With a win last week, Ohio State (9-2, 8-3 ATS) snared at least a portion of the conference title and is heading to Pasadena in January while this is the final opportunity for Michigan (5-6, 5-6 ATS) to become bowl eligible.
Line movement
The Buckeyes opened as 11.5-point favorites and most shops are currently dangling a spread of 12 with a few as high as 12.5. The total has not experienced much movement from its opener of 47.5.
Injury report
Michigan’s leading rusher Brandon Minor is doubtful for the game with a shoulder injury.
The Wolverines star wide receiver Martavious Odoms has missed the last three games with a knee injury, but practiced all week and is listed as probable for the game.
Weather or not
The forecast predicts mostly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of precipitation and a calm breeze out of the southwest at 5 mph. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 50 degrees.
Pryor conviction
Ohio State is sky-high after coming off two season-saving wins against Penn State and Iowa. The team has already earned at least a share of the Big Ten and even though a win could provide the Buckeyes with the outright title, this sets up as a potential trap game.
Since Terrelle Pryor was chastised by the nation following the loss at Purdue, where he accounted for four turnovers, the sophomore signal caller has been efficient. Not flashy, but efficient.
In the Buckeyes’ last four games, Pryor has completed 56 percent of his passes, which isn’t a staggering mark, but has only tossed one interception and has not coughed up any fumbles.
“Before…I always looked for the big play,” Pryor to reporters. “Now, I’m taking the check-downs and reading through the whole defense. It causes turnovers when you make your mind up before you come out of the huddle.”
Pryor is coming off his best percentage game of the season after completing 14-of-17 passes in the overtime win against Iowa.
The 112 total yards Pryor posted in that game indicates that head coach Jim Tressel has taken a little bit of weight off the shoulders of his young quarterback after struggling early in the season.
Tressel doesn’t get too fancy in his offensive attack, keeping his cards under his sweater-vest while relying on his ground game and formidable defense.
Lifestyle of the Rich and infamous
After only two seasons of stalking the sidelines at The Big House, head coach Rich Rodriguez is on the lukewarm seat, but a win Saturday could almost guarantee him another year.
Rodriguez bucked the Big Ten trend of a power-running game and brought his spread offense to Ann Arbor. Behind a true freshman quarterback in Tate Forcier, the Wolverines boast the conference’s top-ranked scoring offense (31.3 ppg).
Most of Michigan’s shortcomings can be attributed to the defensive side of the ball.
"Our failure to win more games, I don't think it's system-oriented," Rodriguez stated. "[The issues we have] are personnel and they are related to building a program.”
After starting the season with four straight wins, the Wolverines have lost six of their last seven and four in a row against the spread.
The defense has yielded at least 35 points during the last four losses and the team ranks No. 102 in the nation in turnover margin.
Great expectations
The Buckeyes have rumbled for at least 225 yards in their last four games and will try to get the ground game going early and often to keep Michigan’s explosive offense off the field.
Michigan relies on its potent ground attack (195.8 ypg), but might not find the running holes quite as cavernous against the country’s fourth-ranked rush defense.
Trendy persuasions
Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games versus Ohio State.
Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS during the last five games of this series.
Wolverines are 3-14 in their last 17 conference games.
Buckeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
Under is 4-0-1 in Ohio State’s last five road games.
Over is 5-1 in Michigan’s last six home games.