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Buckeyes open as massive favorite over Michigan State for primetime showdown

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•11/05/23•

SpencerHolbrook

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(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is finally returning back to the Horseshoe after back-to-back road wins over Wisconsin and Rutgers.

The Buckeyes will open their final three games of the regular season with two straight home games for the first time since Sept. 9 and 16. First up on the two-game home slate: Michigan State, a reeling program with an interim head coach, a poor defense and a stagnant offense.

That’s why even though Ohio State hasn’t played a complete game yet, the oddsmakers expect the Buckeyes to steamroll the Spartans in primetime on Saturday night. Ohio State opened Sunday as a 28.5-point favorite over Michigan State. The total is set at 46.5.

Those odds are according to Fanduel Sportsbook.

Ohio State played one of its worst halves of football Saturday, trailing Rutgers at the half before storming back to claim a 19-point road win and improve to 9-0 on the season — and 6-0 in Big Ten action.

Michigan State, meanwhile, fired Mel Tucker after his September scandal and hasn’t looked good since. The Spartans beat Nebraska on Saturday for their first Big Ten win but are 3-6 overall and must win their remaining three games just to reach a bowl game.

The folks in the desert are confident Ohio State will be able to dominate Michigan State. That’s why they made the Buckeyes a four-score favorite for the primetime showdown set for Saturday night.

  • The Buckeyes are 5-3-1 against the spread this season. The Buckeyes had covered the spread in every game since it started 0-2 against the number, with the exception of the push at Notre Dame. But they failed to cover by a half-point against Wisconsin two weeks ago.
  • The total has gone under in 6 of the last 8 games between Ohio State and Michigan State
  • The total has gone over in 14 of Ohio State’s last 19 games against a Big Ten East opponent
  • The Buckeyes have went over the total just twice in their eight games this season
  • Michigan State is 4-4-1 against the spread this season
  • Michigan State is 2-4 against the number in Big Ten play this season
  • The total has gone over in four of the last five Michigan State games
  • Ohio State has won seven straight games over Michigan State
  • Ohio State is 8-0 against the spread in its last 8 games played in Week 11

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