Early rivalry game odds for Michigan vs. Ohio State revealed

Look for this year’s installment of The Game between Michigan and Ohio State to potentially come down to the wire.

No conference rivalry game will carry more weight next season than the latest installment of The Game between Michigan and Ohio State over in Big Ten country.

Why would it not? These are the two strongest programs in one of the two strongest conferences in the Power Five. Although Michigan has won The Game each of the last two years, the two-time reigning Big Ten champions were joined by Ohio State in the most recent College Football Playoff. While both lost absolute heartbreakers in the national semifinals, this rivalry is absolutely back!

Here are the latest betting odds by FanDuel Sportsbook, including the line for this year’s game.

Michigan opened as a slight one-point favorite over Ohio State for The Game in The Big House.

Let’s discuss what that line means and what to look forward to heading into this college season.

Michigan opens as a slight home favorite over Ohio State in massive rivalry game

Had this game been in The Horseshoe, the Buckeyes might be as much as a five-point favorite. If it were held at a neutral site, the Buckeyes might be laying two points, in theory. Regardless, it seems as though the bookmakers view the final year of the Big Ten East as a two-team race between Michigan and Ohio State with plucky Penn State clearly as the third wheel once again.

It should be noted Michigan once again has a Charmin soft non-conference schedule, as they don’t play nobody. Ohio State has to travel to South Bend to finish off their home-and-home with the Golden Domers of Notre Dame. The Buckeyes are a sizable 8.5-point road favorite over the Fighting Irish. Simply put, that road win gives Ohio State way more wiggle room than Michigan.

Overall, anything short of an 11-win season would be seen as a massive disappointment for the Wolverines. They do have to play the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley, but are laying 1.5 points in State College. Michigan is also a sizable 15-point favorite over Mel Tucker’s Michigan State Spartans. For all intents and purposes, they are a NY6 lock and a great pick to make the playoff.

Ultimately, Ohio State is a potential regression candidate. The Buckeyes play a harder schedule over Michigan, as illustrated by the road date in South Bend. In short, they will once again get the benefit of the doubt if they win all of their games but The Game. How well they played Georgia in the Peach Bowl caught everyone by surprise. There is still a ton of pressure Ryan Day is feeling…

Michigan should be favored over Ohio State in The Big House, but by only one point is very telling.

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