Michigan (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten) at Ohio St. (9-2, 6-1)
Could this Saturday’s Michigan-Ohio State game be the most lopsided in the history of this great series? Oddsmakers at WagerWeb.com sure think so, as the Buckeyes are 20.5-point favorites, which is the largest spread in the history of college football’s best rivalry.
And really, why shouldn’t the spread be that big? Michigan has one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 105th nationally in total offense and last in the Big Ten with less than 300 yards per game.
In addition, starting QB Steven Threet likely will have to sit this week, meaning Nick Sheridan, who was awful in last week’s loss to Northwestern (not that Threet was any better), will get the start. Top tailback Sam McGuffie had a death in the family and could miss his second straight game. Fellow RB Brandon Minor should return after missing a game with a shoulder injury, but he’s not 100 percent. Oh, and the Wolverines have turned the ball over a league-worst 28 times.
Ohio State has forced 26 takeaways, second-most in the Big Ten, and the Buckeyes rank 13th in the nation in allowing just 286.6 yards per game.
Meanwhile, Ohio State’s rush offense is humming (which is a good thing because like Michigan, this team can’t pass). Both QB Terrelle Pryor and RB Beanie Wells rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown last week against Illinois as the Buckeyes put up 455 yards (300 rushing) of total offense. Wells had a key long TD run against Michigan two years ago and rushed for a career-high 222 yards against the Wolverines last year.
Michigan, already with the first eight-loss season in its history is hoping to avoid its first three-win season since 1963 (3-4-2). The Buckeyes are trying to win five straight over the Wolverines for the first time in school history, and UM hasn’t won in Columbus since 2000. There is one good omen for UM: Only one other Michigan coach (Harry Kipke) has ever lost his first game against Ohio State.
NCAA Betting at WagerWeb.com
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