[jwplayer BzLpEzD2-XNcErKyb]
This is no surprise, given Ohio State’s dominance all season long. But for the first time all season, the Buckeyes are not double-digit favorites over their next opponent.
The lowest that OSU has been favored by all season was 14.5 points — twice, at home against Cincinnati in Week Two and later when it hosted Wisconsin. Even this last week’s game against Penn State had a spread that ballooned to 20 points by kickoff. The Buckeyes have covered in all but three of eleven regular season games in 2019.
But with The Game up next, while Michigan is still the underdog, the opening line, according to WagerTalk.com, is 9.5, with an over/under set at 55.5 — indicating a potentially high-scoring affair.
📢 Breaking News: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines spread is OUT! Circa Sports in Vegas have the Buckeyes -9.5 (55.5) over the Wolverines for their showdown in Ann Arbor. Updated OSU vs. MI Odds: https://t.co/V0GA05WPFs#GoBlue #GoBucks @DerekJStevens @CircaSports
— WagerTalk (@WagerTalk) November 24, 2019
The Wolverines have certainly played like a different team in the past 4.5 games, especially on offense. In the first 6 games (with the first-half of Penn State included), Michigan averaged 386 yards of offense. Since, the maize and blue have managed to put up 426.2 yards-per-game, with a new scoring offense of 40 points-per-game, compared to the 29.1 point average in the 6.5 games previous.
Both Ohio State and Michigan feature Top 10 defenses, but the Buckeyes have a vaunted offense to match. The Wolverines have recently looked the part on that front, scoring in droves, but can the maize and blue go toe-to-toe with the No. 2 team in the country?
Vegas at least thinks it will be a closer affair than many suggested it would be earlier in the season.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1361]