The next installment of The Game, featuring the past two national champions, Ohio State and Michigan, already has early odds set for next fall.
According to FanDuel, which currently lists odds for just eleven games next season, Ohio State has opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Michigan in Ann Arbor for their November showdown. The over/under for the highly anticipated matchup is set at 47.5 points.
Again, after last night, the latest outing the rivalry will feature each of the last two winners of the College Football Playoff. The maize & blue won the final year of the four-team format while the scarlet & grey won the first year of the expanded one.
Following last night’s results, the next chapter of this storied rivalry will showcase the last two College Football Playoff champions. Michigan claimed the title in the final year of the four-team format, while Ohio State secured victory in the inaugural year of the expanded playoff.
While these early odds provide some excitement, there’s no way to predict what either team will look like next season, especially by the time the regular season finale arrives.
Ohio State, after returning much of its roster this season, is set to lose several key players on both sides of the ball, particularly from its nation-leading defense. However, the Buckeyes will retain standout talent, including two of the sport’s best in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and defensive back Caleb Downs.
As for Michigan, the Wolverines will also face significant departures, particularly on defense, which ranked as a top-20 unit nationally.
However, the point spread has meant little to Michigan in recent years. The Wolverines have covered and won outright in each of the last four matchups, three of those as underdogs. This includes last season’s historic upset, where they triumphed 13-10 in Columbus despite being 20.5-point underdogs.
- The Game already carries immense significance, but the stakes will be even higher next time, given the current streak in the series and the fact that both teams have won a national title in the past two seasons. However, with ten months remaining before the matchup, plenty can change that could influence the near double-digit spread currently separating the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
