Michigan Wolverines: Dominant Favorites in Upcoming Game
Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC]
00:02 >> The Buckeyes were never a team that I thought could go out there and
00:06 win a national championship.
00:08 And it is why after this team in Ohio State beat Notre Dame, I told you, wow,
00:12 look, a pair of college football playoff non-contenders in Ohio State and
00:17 Notre Dame.
00:18 Michigan at home, now just a flat three, that has to be the look.
00:21 >> Five, two, and one against the number four, the Mays and
00:23 Blue, as a favorite in Big Ten play this year.
00:26 Michigan has been booked as a favorite in every single game.
00:29 This will be just the second one.
00:31 It's only been one digit, a single digit number in favor of the Wolverines.
00:36 As an underdog for Ohio State under Ryan Day,
00:39 he became the head man full time in Columbus at the start of the 2019 campaign.
00:44 It has not been a frequent occurrence.
00:46 This will be just the fifth time Ohio State has been booked as an underdog,
00:50 one and three straight up, two and two against the number in the four prior times.
00:54 At least, let's talk about the total as well.
00:57 The over under is 46 and a half.
00:59 The last two meetings, 45-23 last year inside the shoe in Columbus.
01:03 That's 68 total points.
01:05 The year prior back in the big house, even with some snowy conditions, 42-27.
01:10 That's 69 total points, both over this number by at least three touchdowns.
01:15 But both these defenses, Leecee, enter this game as the two best defensive units
01:19 from stopping their opponent from scoring in the country.
01:22 Michigan the best scoring unit in all of college football defensively,
01:25 only allowing nine points per game.
01:27 And that includes giving up 24, a season high against Maryland
01:31 last Saturday in College Park.
01:33 Ohio State not far behind.
01:34 They allow just 9.3 points per game, the second best scoring defensive unit
01:38 in all of CFB.
01:40 So, Leecee, as you look at this total, 46 and a half with a spread at only 3 and a half
01:45 in favor of Michigan, what do you think the game flow looks like today in Ann Arbor?
01:49 - I think it's totally, from a defensive perspective,
01:52 I lean to the under in this ball game.
01:54 And the reason why I say that is, you look at both secondaries.
01:57 Both secondaries only allowing, Ben, 144 passing yards per game.
02:02 Ohio State holding opposing quarterbacks, 52% completion percentage.
02:06 And on the flip side for Michigan, 50.
02:09 But not only that, we haven't seen the dominant rushing attack that we've seen
02:13 for both teams in recent years.
02:15 Look at Ohio State entering this ball game only about a buck 45 per game.
02:20 Last year, they were in the area of 192 yards per game.
02:24 Michigan, in this ball game, enters 171 rushing yards per game.
02:28 Last year, they were in the area of about 212 to 220, right?
02:32 So, there's a significant drop-off from the rushing production.
02:36 So, I think points are going to be at a premium today.
02:39 I think the team that wins this ball game will win the turnover battle,
02:43 but has the better quarterback in this matchup.
02:45 I favor Kyle McCord, but again, this is not a game I love in terms
02:49 of the betting perspective, Kev.
02:51 The more we talk this out, and this is no, "Oh, I'm just going against Joe."
02:55 The more I realize I like Michigan and the over as well as...
02:58 For now.
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