U-M favored over Buckeyes for 1st time in 5 years

• David Purdum, ESPN Staff WriterNov 20, 2023, 08:09 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2014
  • Journalist covering betting industry considering that 2008

Ohio State has not been an underdog to a Big 10 team in 5 years. Michigan is poised to end that streak Saturday.The Wolverines began the week as 4-point home favorites over the Buckeyes at ESPN BET. It’s the very first time they have actually been favored over Ohio State considering that 2018, when the Buckeyes were also 4-point underdogs versus Michigan.That was the last time Ohio State had actually been an underdog to a Big Ten

team, a stretch of 43 games versus conference enemies. It’s the longest active streak of being favored against one conference in the nation, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Buckeyes beat Michigan 62-39 in 2018. Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Michigan will be without coach Jim Harbaugh when it hosts the Buckeyes on Saturday in Ann

Arbor. Harbaugh will be serving the last game of a three-game suspension for the alleged sign-stealing plan. Oddsmakers have actually minimized the impact of Harbaugh’s absence on the sideline in the Wolverines’past 2 games, wins over Penn State and Maryland, and state any included inspiration caused by the debate mitigates the loss of their coach.Ed Salmons, a veteran Las Vegas oddsmaker with the Westgate SuperBook, approximated Harbaugh was worth”one point”to the spread.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the line go back up a little, “Salmons said.Caesars Sportsbook had Michigan noted as a 6.5-point preferred before last week’s games but reopened at -4.5 on Sunday.” Little bit of cash on the Buckeyes up until now,”Adam Pullen, assistant director of trading for Caesars Sportsbook, informed ESPN on Sunday.

“It stands to reason, due to the fact that Michigan didn’t look so hot [Saturday] against Maryland.”On Sunday, the line opened as high as Michigan -5 at Circa Sports, a Las Vegas-based sportsbook known to deal with professional bettors. The number dipped to Michigan -3, before kicking back at -4 as of Monday morning.Michigan was a -170 money-line preferred to win the game straight-up, and the over/under overall was sitting at 47 at ESPN BET on Monday.ESPN BET odds are provided by Penn Home entertainment.