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The Michigan vs. Ohio State spread had the Buckeyes as -17 home favorites with even action on both sides.
This game is do or die for the Buckeyes, who are in danger of falling to third in the conference and out of the BCS mix altogether.
For a team that started off the season ranked number one and among the favorites to win the 2011 BCS Championship title, such a notion seems improbable.
The good news for Ohio State is that they have covered 5 of the last 6 in this series. They have won all 6 outright and 8 of the last 9 in this series. That said, they have only won by the current spread one time in the last 10 games.
Ohio State knows that Michigan (7-4) wants nothing more than to beat them
“Just beating us would make those guys’ year,” Ohio State linebacker Brian Rolle said on Monday. “That’d be like the National Championship for those guys.
Michigan nose tackle Mike Martin disagreed.
“For us, it’s not about Ohio State – it’s about us and what we do,” he said. “We don’t go into this game to spoil Ohio State’s season. It’s all about us. We’re playing for each other and doing what we can and what we can control.”
In this series though, nothing is more important than beating the other team, championships aside.
“To say that they have ore at stake than us, when you look at it from a Bowl perspective and Big 10 championship – sure,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. To say it’s less important, no. Never.”
Ohio State is Attempting to keep pace with Wisconsin and Michigan State, both of whom only have one loss on the season. Should Ohio State win, they will likely be in line for a BCS berth.
Let’s look at some important trends for the Michigan vs. Ohio State game below, noting that Michigan will be facing an uphill battle here despite the huge price.
The Wolverines are 10-25 Against The Spread in their last 35 games overall.
Michigan is 6-18 ATS in their last 24 games following a Straight Up loss.
The Wolverines are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Michigan is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Michigan is a dismal 4-22 Against The Spread in their last 26 conference games. The Buckeyes are 37-14-1 ATS in conference games. (edge: Ohio State)
The Wolverines are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games in November.
The Wolverines are 0-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Michigan is 0-5 ATS on field turf.
Ohio State is 11-1 ATS in their last 12 games as a home favorite and 10-1 ATS when favored at home by 10.5 or more points. (edge: Ohio State)
The Buckeyes are 12-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
