Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines Expert Score Predictions: Ryan Day has his chance to right his only wrong

Ohio State is on the road trying to move to 12-0 against Michigan, who they’ve lost four straight times to.

Adam Holt, AJ Schulte, Brandon Little, Travis May
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All eyes in the college football world this weekend will be on the big rivalry game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are trying to end a four-game losing streak against the Wolverines and move to 12-0 on the season. 

Major Big Ten Championship stakes and College Football Playoff implications are on the line in this one. It’s a top-15-ranked matchup to end the regular season for both teams. The team here at A to Z Sports has your expert predictions below. 

Ohio State vs. Michigan facts to know

  • Michigan leads the all-time series 62-51-6, but Ohio State is 17-7 against the Wolverines since 2000.
  • Michigan is 33-24-4 all-time when playing in Ann Arbor.
  • Ryan Day is 81-10 as a head coach but 1-4 against the Wolverines.
  • Michigan averaged 223.3 yards per game rushing, and that’s how it wants to beat teams.
  • Ohio State is allowing just 7.6 points per game this season, which ranks first in FBS.

Ohio State 31, Michigan 13

Let’s get it out of the way that I’m taking the Buckeyes to cover the spread here. Since Ohio State lost to Michigan last year, it’s felt like that loss changed Ryan Day. Ohio State went on a historical run after that loss, and Day has never been more locked in.

The one blemish on his career is the four straight losses to Michigan, something that can’t continue. All the focus this week will be on the health of Ohio State’s star wideouts. Even if one of Jeremiah Smith or Carnell Tate doesn’t play, Ohio State’s run game has shown great strides lately. Ohio State’s defense has been elite all season, and there’s no reason that should change now. This one will be all about the offense. — Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State 

Ohio State 34, Michigan 17

As we all know, this game is nearly the definition of unpredictable. The Buckeyes have played like the best team in college football all season and boast an elite group on both sides of the ball. Their top wide receivers being banged up is a bit concerning, but hopefully they’ll be good to go against the Wolverines.

As for Michigan, it’s been a successful campaign in the win column as they sit at nine right now. With a true freshman QB and some young talent on defense, that’s pretty notable. Finding a way to beat Ohio State and knocking them down the seed picture for the CFP would be their cherry on top, though. I don’t think their offense is quite enough against the Buckeyes to predict that, though. — Adam Holt, A to Z Sports 

Ohio State 35, Michigan 14

Michigan enters The Game fresh off its most complete performance of the season last week against Maryland, where it finally felt like the passing offense looked like what fans hoped it could be. However, it’s an entirely different animal doing it against Maryland than it is doing it against Ohio State’s elite defense.

Ohio State is simply too talented everywhere for this young Michigan team to handle right now. The Wolverines have key injuries on both sides of the ball, and quite frankly, I don’t know where they find enough production to keep up with the Buckeyes in this one. It will be a physical rivalry game to start, but I think Ohio State will pull away as the game goes on. — AJ Schulte, A to Z Sports Michigan

Ohio State 27, Michigan 19

The Game is perhaps the greatest rivalry in all of college football. Strange things happen when these two teams are together, and more than any other rivalry, the records can be thrown out when trying to predict a winner here. Michigan has won this match four years in a row, even when it seemed it had absolutely no real advantages over Ohio State last season. Ohio State again looks like the far superior team from top to bottom this year.

Yes, the wide receivers are banged up. Yes, the Buckeyes have first-year starters at several spots. And yes, Ohio State’s schedule has been a bit soft by its typical standards. However, the Buckeyes have NFL players crowding every single position group on their roster.

Arvell Reese might be a top-five pick as a hybrid linebacker and edge rusher. Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Max Klare should all be early picks as pass catchers. Both lines are stacked to the brim with potential draft picks. Ohio State should have the edge most everywhere. However, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the Michigan rushing attack, and newfound WR1 Andrew Marsh should do enough to keep this one close for much of the game. Ohio State wins a close one late, 27-19. — Travis May, A to Z Sports

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