No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 10 Ohio State Highlights Busy College Football Saturday

Posted on: November 24, 2018, 04:00h. 

Last updated on: November 22, 2018, 01:44h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
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The No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten) playing at No. 10 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) is the headlining attraction on a busy college football Saturday that has 18 ranked teams taking the gridiron.

Michigan Ohio State college football odds
Today’s rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan is the biggest in the eras of respective head coaches Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh. (Image: Getty)

For the first time in 51 games, the Buckeyes enter the game as an underdog. The last time it happened was back in 2015 at the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship where Ohio State pulled off the upset over Oregon 42-20.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have Michigan spotting around five points to OSU. Kickoff is at noon ET.

The outcome of the Big Ten showdown of course has CFP implications. The winner advances to the Big Ten Championship where they’ll play No. 19 Northwestern (7-4, 7-1 Big Ten). Should OSU or Michigan win the conference title, a spot in the four-team CFP playoff is almost certainly theirs.

Michigan hasn’t won at the Horseshoe since 2000. However, the Wolverines hold the all-time rivalry record at 58-49-6.

Side Acts

Along with Michigan and Ohio State, today’s slate of games features two other contests featuring ranked opponents going head-to-head.

No. 7 LSU (9-2, 5-2 SEC) hopes to keep their slim (putting it nicely) playoff hopes alive in College Station when they battle No. 22 Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC). The Aggies are favored by a field goal. For the Tigers to have any shot at the CFP, they would need chaos to ensue this weekend and next.

LSU would need No. 5 Georgia to lose to unranked Georgia Tech at home where they’re favored by 17 points, and No. 1 Alabama to lose at home to unranked Auburn where they’re favored by 24. The Tigers would then need Georgia to beat Alabama in the SEC Championship.

The other ranked vs. ranked matchup has no impact on the CFP. No. 21 Utah State (10-1, 7-0 MW) plays at No. 23 Boise State (9-2, 6-1 MW). The home team Broncos are favored by 2.5 points.

Upset Alerts

Saturday also has several games that could shake up the CFP picture.

No. 3 Notre Dame (11-0) easily took care of then-No. 12 Syracuse last week 36-3. Only one team stands in their way of claiming one of the four CFP spots: longtime rival USC.

Though the Trojans are 5-6 (4-5 Pac-12) this year, the Fighting Irish present USC with a way to cap off their season in a memorable way, while at the same time becoming bowl eligible. Las Vegas oddsmakers have Notre Dame spotting the hosts around 11 points.

No. 2 Clemson (11-0, 8-0 ACC) welcomes in-state rival South Carolina (6-4, 4-4 SEC). The Tigers are expected to cruise past the Gamecocks, and are favored by more than three touchdowns. However, with their campuses separated by a mere 130 miles, and the rivalry the largest sporting spectacle in the Palmetto State, and the underdogs will come ready to play.

Clemson has won the four previous meetings.