Michigan opens as -5.5 point favorite for The Game
https://www.thescore.com/ncaaf/events/132888/box_score
saw it on the Score first, genuine question though: when was the last time we were favored in this game? I’m 24 and pretty much only remember Vegas expecting us to lose. Feels good to be on the other side!
GO BLUE BEAT OHIO
November 19th, 2023 at 9:22 AM ^
It seems to me over the past 5 years, the team struggling going into The Game wins.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
Yes and no. We were not struggling in ‘21. We beat the hell out of Maryland the week prior.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
We lost to MSU because we couldn't cover Walker or their WRs. We all thought with the type of WRs OSU had we will be toast.
November 19th, 2023 at 4:41 PM ^
Especially after Ohio State effortlessly crushed that same MSU team the week before the game.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
Who is hurt? JJ is said to have been limping but he moved around the pocket fine..if he's anything, maybe just dinged up but ready to do it in the big game.
Wilson, looked good on the sideline, I'd expect he's good to go Saturday.
Barrett came back in??
Henderson should be back next week?
Hinton is probably out
Who else?
November 19th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
NM, didn't see you mentioned Roman at first.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:49 AM ^
Barrett did come back. Watching hinton limp to the locker was not a good thing. I doubt he's back, but who knows. Barrett's thing looked like an arm or hand issue. I would think he'd be fine by next week if he came this week. Maybe a stinger down the arm. Came on a whiffed tackle by John Wallace. There were a lot of missed tackles yesterday. Barrett is a guy we need out there Henderson clearly too.
My worry with wilson is not how he looks, but rather if there's some protocol taht keeps out if its a concussion related thing.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
It was reported that Barrett has a sprained AC joint. Painful - takes about 6 weeks to fully recover. Does anyone know how much longer Colson will have his hand wrapped up?
November 19th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
We have no idea what to expect from Wilson until we are told by medical staff. I had a teammate who seemed so ready to go and set out 6 weeks one season because he kept failing the test needed to play. He was functional in the classroom and around campus and everything. Just couldn’t work out or play.
I sincerely hope this is not the case for Roman but there is no way to know until he does the tests.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
Most of those you listed are going to play even if they are hurt. Being back is not the same as not hurt. You remember BC giving it a go last year and had to be on sidelines rest of the game? Hope everyone is back and healthy.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
OSU beat MSU and Minnesota at home by lower margins than UM beat those two teams on the road. They look a bit better because of competition; I wouldn't say they're rounding into form beyond Henderson becoming their full time back. But they're down Ransom at safety and I think Eubuka is still nursing something
November 19th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
Is being down Ransom a good thing or a bad thing?
November 19th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
Good for us. I know we like to rip on him for last year, and deservedly so, but he’s been much improved for them this year. It’s unlikely the replacement is as good.
November 19th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
I hope you're right. My worry is that transitive wins with Harbaugh on the sidelines might not translate without him.
Are we the more powerful team, not factoring in the suspension? I think so. I'm hoping that the players and staff can overcome any possible disadvantage we have. They're motivated.
Also hoping that they can bring in more protection on passing downs, given the problems we saw, and clean up a few issues we saw in Q3 on defense yesterday.
It'll be great if Henderson and Wilson can play. They seem to be difference-makers on offense.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
Didn’t we squeak by Illinois at home on last second FG last year then throttle OSU by 22 in Columbus last year?
November 19th, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
I want to do it again !!
November 19th, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
Don't mean to thread hijack but UNLV is 9-2 and will likely win the mwc. It's a shame they won't be able to play in a ny6 game because they're better than Tulane imo. Tulane beat East Carolina 13-10.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:20 AM ^
Screw your facts, we have a narrative to push.
-ESPN
They literally are still saying Michigan hasn't played anyone. Yet they give OSU credit for Penn St. and Maryland.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
Teams they played at home and we played on the road. Without our head coach for both, nonetheless.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
People were gushing over the fact they beat a tough Wisconsin on the road. Yeah, about Wisconsin...
November 19th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
UNLV is better than ND.
Bet.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:13 AM ^
Going for win number MI for MI in MI Stadium. Probably should BET $1001 on the good guys!
November 19th, 2023 at 4:42 PM ^
Sweet.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:16 AM ^
The game hangs on the hinges of whether, or not my buddy Cody Adam’s randomly shows up to my house like the last two years UM whooped that ass. Let the superstitions roll, and bust out the rabbits feet. As always GO BLUE!
November 19th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
I did leg day the morning of 2021 game, I hate leg day more than anything and always skip it. After, I made the joke that it's good luck if I did it only before we played OSU in football. My kid reminded me last year, I vocalized thanks and performed my duties.
(Sighs at considering how difficult it will be to get off the commode on 11/26/23)
November 19th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Load up that barbell baby and hit some legs for us all!
November 19th, 2023 at 10:45 AM ^
I almost always watch Michigan games by myself or with my wife since I live in Columbus. Two years ago, we went over to a friend's house to watch who are Purdue fans. They wanted Michigan to win. I sat on the floor in a certain spot, and they won. Last year I made sure to do the same thing. When they asked if we were coming over this year, I told them that if they were out of town that weekend, I'd break into their house to watch the game in that same spot. No need to break tradition now.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:16 AM ^
Seems like the point total will be much lower compared to the last few years. Temps probably in the 30's with some wind. Going to look like a physical NFL playoff game.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
Well, theirs certainly will be.
M 48-19.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:17 AM ^
Weird…I hadn’t looked but they were just going on and on here in Columbus about how the line is down to 3.5 and expect it to go <3
November 19th, 2023 at 9:30 AM ^
That where I would expect it to go, 3.5 or so by game time. I think it’s a true toss up at this point. M gets 3 pts for the home field and 0.5 pts for winning the last two games.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:41 AM ^
Are you quoting Ohio lunatic hillbillies ?
November 19th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Lol yeah but I live in Columbus and personally know some do the radio guys so I listen to their total nonsense.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:25 AM ^
What is really interesting in marquee matchups such as this is folks believing that these narrow lines are predicting the winner/loser.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:44 AM ^
Imagine if Ryan Day lost to Michigan without Jim Harbaugh. hahaha
November 19th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Yes, he'd have as losing record against 2 Michigan coaches.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:47 AM ^
i think thats way too much given the circumstances. I think that is reasonable if none of this shit happened and harbaugh was coaching. i hope its way too little. thats not what she said
November 19th, 2023 at 9:51 AM ^
I’m sorry, that is absolutely insane. I would never bet against our beloved wolverine, but without our head coach, and the way, we’ve played the last few games, throw in a couple of injuries, and I think it out to be the other way around with Ohio favored by 3 or five points.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
Yeah, with all this chaos I'm shocked the line isn't the other way around. Harbaugh not being on the sidelines for OSU is a much bigger deal than the last 2 weeks.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
In my 50+ years of active rooting, Michigan frequently plays like crap as a favorite in big games against top competition. I'd be much more comfortable with Michigan as a home dog.
November 19th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
I would normally agree, but this is the best Michigan team since at least the 1970’s? Possibly 1948? You would probably know better than me?
Consider this, we have a first rd NFL draft pick at QB whose record as a starter is 23-1. That is a better win percentage than Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Deshaun Watson.
We have two of the top three Running Backs in College Football. One is a between the tackles hammer who can find a hole and get extra yardage on virtually every run play. The other is a receiving maestro who has breakaway speed and a pretty good track record against the Buckeyes.
Our O-Line is banged up, but is still considered one of the best in the Country, with 7 players projected to be NFL draft picks!
Our two starting Tight Ends are both considered to be excellent blockers and receivers, as well as NFL draft picks.
The receivers have played well within the system, are team players, willing blockers downfield and have shown an ability to make big plays.
Our Defense is currently ranked first nationally in total Yards allowed on the season and are coming off their worst game? Something tells me they will be motivated next weekend!
Despite all the hate, negative media PR campaign, unprecedented intervention from the Conference and potential injury concerns, this is the best Michigan team of our lifetimes! We have the Buckeyes at home and WE WILL WIN!
It’s everything we’ve always hoped for and our enemies can’t stand it! Enjoy it!
November 19th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Word
Truth
Bet
November 19th, 2023 at 4:47 PM ^
It happened as recently as last year against TCU.
I would rather have an underdog Michigan with a chip on its shoulder and something to prove playing Ohio State.
By engineering the kneecapping of Jim Harbaugh in conjunction with the Big Ten commissioner, Ohio State has ensured just that, no matter what the spread is.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:52 AM ^
Twenty-Four!!!
youth is wasted on the young.
November 19th, 2023 at 9:56 AM ^
I’m 57 and remember the good ole days! Jimmy has brought that back the past 2 years!
November 19th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Higher than I expected, guessing it’ll be closer to -3.5 by kickoff.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
Unless we have a rope a dope strategy I don't see why this line is that high. Home field is it (-3)at most given health concerns to me. JJ is going to have to run for his life and if already mobile impaired that or a good hit may not make that possible. Not sure we can pound the ball all game although that would be delicious.
There, I got all my sand bagging out of the way.
November 19th, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
It isn't that high, it's 3.5 or 4 at the few available books. OP is using outdated info
November 19th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
No decimal point needed