Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines November 30th 2024

FOX is handling the TV broadcast for this week 14 Big Ten matchup between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is set for 12:00 ET at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. The over/under line is currently 43.5 points, and the Buckeyes are the heavy favorite at -20.5. Ohio State is 10-1 on the season, while Michigan comes in at 6-5.

Michigan vs. Ohio State Key Information

Michigan enters Week 14 against Ohio State with a 6-5 record, ranked 34th in our power rankings. They are 6-2 at home but winless on the road at 0-3. The Wolverines have been favored in six games this season, going 5-1 in those matchups. Despite their record, they are 100% bowl-eligible but have no chance of winning the Big Ten.

Michigan’s ATS record stands at 4-7, with a +1.6 average scoring margin. At home, they are 3-5 against the spread, and they’ve gone 1-2 on the road. As favorites, they are 2-4 ATS, while they’ve covered 2 out of 5 games as underdogs.

Their over/under record is 7-4, with their games averaging 44.5 points. This week’s line is set at 43.5 points, slightly above their average line of 42.2 points for the season.

Michigan’s offense has struggled this season, averaging just 23.1 points per game, placing them 82nd nationally. They are also ranked 82nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 14. Their passing game has been particularly weak, with only 140.1 yards per game, ranking 124th in the country. Quarterback Davis Warren has thrown for 1,064 yards, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 74.

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On the ground, Michigan is averaging 160.3 rushing yards per game. Kalel Mullings leads the team with 832 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Tyler Morris is the leading receiver with 234 yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan’s defense is coming off a strong performance, allowing just six points and 128 total yards in their recent game against Northwestern. They held the Wildcats to 11 rushing yards on 24 attempts and forced two interceptions.

On the season, Michigan ranks 7th nationally in rushing yards allowed, giving up just 94.6 yards per game. They are 30th in points allowed, averaging 21.5 points per game.

Ohio State enters Week 14 against Michigan with a 10-1 record and a perfect 7-0 mark at home. They are ranked 2nd in our CFB power rankings and have a 64.7% chance of winning the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are also projected to be bowl-eligible and have a 99.5% chance of making the CFB playoff.

Ohio State has been favored in all 11 games this season, going 10-1 with an average scoring margin of +27.1 points per game. Their ATS record stands at 6-5, with a 4-3 mark at home and 2-2 on the road.

The over/under line for this week is 43.5 points, the lowest they’ve faced this season. Ohio State’s games have averaged 48.5 points, and their average over/under line has been 51.1 points, with a 5-6 record against the total.

Ohio State’s offense ranks 10th in points per game, scoring 37.8, but they are 2nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 14. Quarterback Will Howard has thrown for 2,685 yards, completing 74% of his passes, and has 26 touchdowns with six interceptions. Ohio State is 2nd in passer rating nationally.

Howard’s top target, Jeremiah Smith, has 899 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Ohio State ranks 29th in passing yards per game. On the ground, they average 179.2 rushing yards per game, with Quinshon Judkins leading the way with 759 yards and eight touchdowns.

Ohio State’s defense has been impressive this season, allowing just 10.7 points per game, the fewest in the nation. They also rank 8th in rushing yards allowed per game (94.8) and 9th in passing yards allowed (151.7), with opposing quarterbacks posting a passer rating of 68.9.

In their recent game against Indiana, Ohio State’s defense gave up only 15 points and allowed just 153 total yards. Indiana rushed 40 times but managed only 85 yards, while Ohio State’s secondary held them to 68 passing yards on 8 completions.

Ohio State is favored by -20.5 points in their week 14 matchup against Michigan. We expect the Buckeyes to win comfortably, with a projected final score of 34-9 in their favor.

Given the over/under line of 43.5 points, our projection of 43 total points suggests that taking the under is the best play. Additionally, we like Ohio State to cover as the heavy favorite.

Michigan Comes Calling for “The Game” with Massive Stakes for No. 2 Ohio State

Rivalry Renewed, Spoiler Role for Michigan

Unranked Michigan heads into Columbus on Saturday with hopes of upending No. 2 Ohio State in “The Game,” one of college football’s most storied rivalries. The stakes are immense for the Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten), who aim to secure a Big Ten title game berth and keep their national championship hopes alive.

Despite being three-touchdown underdogs, the Wolverines (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) hold a psychological edge, having won the past three meetings.

Michigan interim coach Sherrone Moore, who guided the Wolverines to a 30-24 win over Ohio State last season during Jim Harbaugh’s suspension, sees opportunity in the team’s struggles this year.

“This game means a lot. Every year it means that much. Each team could be 0-11 or 11-0, and the records go out the window,” Moore said. “You really just care about winning the game.”

Pressure Mounts for Ohio State

For Ohio State, the weight of expectation is palpable. A win not only secures a rematch with No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game but also keeps the Buckeyes firmly in the hunt for their first national title since 2014.

“To say that this team and those leaders and those seniors want to win this game, it would be one of the biggest understatements of all-time,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “They don’t need any extra motivation.”

Ohio State moved to 2-1 in top-5 matchups this season with last week’s 38-15 victory over then-No. 5 Indiana. Day believes those experiences will pay dividends in a game of this magnitude.

“There’s nothing quite like this game or this stage, but it has been good for us to get tested this year,” Day said. “All of that adds to the character and resilience of your team that no matter what comes at us on Saturday, we’ll know how to react. But this one’s different.”

Key Injuries for Michigan

The Wolverines face questions surrounding key players. Tight end Colston Loveland exited last week’s 50-6 win over Northwestern with an injury but is “trending in a good direction,” according to Moore. Cornerback Will Johnson, however, remains a doubt after not dressing for the game.

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High Stakes for “The Game”

For Ohio State, the focus is execution, preparation, and staying true to the process that has propelled the Buckeyes to this point.

“Every decision that’s made in terms of the coaching staff, the roster, how we practice, schematics, is all working towards this moment,” Day said.

For Michigan, it’s about harnessing the rivalry’s energy.

“It’s not something you can really describe,” Moore said. “It’s just different. It’s a different energy. It’s a different moment. We all understand what it’s about and what it feels like to be in The Game.”

Legacy on the Line

As the Buckeyes chase perfection and a chance to rewrite the narrative against their rival, Michigan relishes the opportunity to play spoiler and extend its streak over Ohio State. With the Big Ten title game and CFP implications on the line, “The Game” promises another unforgettable chapter in college football lore.