3. Michigan at Ohio State
LINE Ohio State -7.5
ATS PICK Ohio State
Call this the anecdotal “feel” pick. I’d say I’m going with my gut on this, but there’s way too much of that at the moment with the commitment to excellence about to restart on Monday.
I do weekly radio hits on three different sports talk radio stations in Ohio. What’s been the main topic conversation for every single appearance at times over the offseason and every week over the last three-plus months?
Michigan.
As is Ohio State is insane. It’s insane when it’s a Tuesday, it’s insane when the defense gives up two first downs, and it would be insane if it received a delightful warm try of chocolate chip cookies on Christmas Day.
And it was out-of-its-mind, batspit, freakishly-obsessive insane – from the fan base right on through to the players – after losing to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semis after then of the 2019 season.
That offseason was all about getting back to the CFP to get its revenge, and when a global pandemic hit and when it looked like the season might be cancelled, who was the lead dog in the yard barking at the Big Ten? Well, it was Nebraska, but it didn’t show up at the conference headquarters with (gasp!) signs written in permanent ink like Ohio State fans did.
And what happened? Forget being careful what you wish for, Ohio State got Clemson again in the playoff, and … boom. 49-28 Buckeyes.
Yeah, that was Cuckoo Lite compare to how the program handled the loss to Michigan over the last 360ish days.
Michigan is really, really good. The lines might be better than the 2021 version, the team has its style and groove, and it might not matter if Derrick Henry was coming out of the tunnel – Ohio State’s defensive front might just roar in this after the problems of last year.
Football-wise, of course the Wolverines can hang in this, and of course Ohio State has its own injury issues. However, it’s far more explosive, its lines aren’t appreciated enough, and the energy in that building is going to be – to sound like a wacky morning radio show host – bonkers.
There really is a good chance Ohio State was just going through the motions waiting for this.
I’d like this more at around 10-to-12, not 7.5.
The winner of this might play …
NEXT: College Football Pick Against The Spread No. 2 Purdue at Indiana