Ohio State opens as double-digit favorite over Michigan two months ahead of The Game
Big Ten play will begin this weekend, with Ohio State playing host to Wisconsin while Maryland will visit the Big House and Michigan. There’s plenty ahead for both programs but their annual rivalry matchup is always at the front of the mind. Especially for the Buckeyes, who are looking to avenge last season’s loss.
Thanksgiving weekend is when the game is traditionally played and that will continue this year. Nov. 26 is the scheduled date, with Fox already announcing an 11 a.m. kickoff from Colombus. We can go ahead and consider Ohio State the favorites as well, with the opening odds being released on Wednesday.
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With 66 days to go until gameday, the Buckeyes will be a double-digit, 10.5-point favorite after the team they dub “That team up north.” It’s a revenge game through and through for Ryan Day and his squad after last season’s debacle. Ohio State’s loss in Ann Arbor not only kept them out of the Big Ten championship game but also eliminated them from College Football Playoff contention.
During Big Ten Media Days this summer, Day explained how those three things are the goals of the Ohio State program. Even failing to achieve any of them this past year, the Buckeyes’ head coach said nothing has changed from their end.
“So, our three goals are to beat the team up north, win the Big Ten Championship, and win a national championship,” Day said this summer. “That’s the goal and those three things didn’t happen last year. So, that didn’t change this year, next year, or the year before.”
Ohio State has win drought going against Michigan
For over a decade, Michigan suffered in the rivalry, not being able to get a win against their nemesis. Now, it’s Ohio State who is in the midst of a drought, going over 1,000 days since beating the Wolverines.
Thanks to last season’s loss and not playing during the 2020 season, Nov. 30, 2019, was the last Ohio State victory celebrated. In comparison, that streak may not seem like a lot but Michigan fans across the country will be holding onto it as long as they possibly can. While Buckeye supporters are counting down the days where it possibly ends.
Overall in the series, Michigan holds the 59-51-6 record. With how recent history over the past decade has gone, Ohio State could overtake sooner rather than later.