Ohio State vs. Michigan: Best Bets For Week 13 Rivalry Game

#3 Ohio State vs. #2 Michigan: Best Bets For Week 13

Rivalry Week is here! And there's no better college football rivalry than The Game between Ohio State and Michigan. Both teams enter Week 13 with undefeated records and a spot in the Big Ten Championship on the line. Not only that, but the winner stays alive in the CFP hunt while the loser's future likely hinges on getting some help from other teams.

Scroll down to check out our outlook on both Ohio State and Michigan and how we recommend playing this game.

MORE: NCAAF PICKS | NCAAF PARLAYS

Ohio State at Michigan: Live Week 13 Odds

Ohio State Buckeyes Week 13 Outlook

The Buckeyes are underdogs for the first time since last year's CFP semifinal game against Georgia. They're also underdogs against a Big Ten team for the first time in five seasons. Ohio State is undefeated on the season and has a 7-3-1 ATS record. After losing to Michigan in each of the last two seasons, head coach Ryan Day is desperate for a win.

The Buckeyes are coming off a dominant performance over Minnesota in which TreVeyon Henderson posted his third 100-yard rushing game since returning from injury in Week 9. Henderson finished with 15 carries for 146 yards and two TDs. He's now scored at least one touchdown in all but one game he's played in this season.

QB Kyle McCord has gotten increasingly better as the season has gone on. He's thrown at least two touchdowns in each of his last seven games, all of which were against Big Ten opponents, and only has four INTs on the season.

Defensively, the Buckeyes are holding opponents to just 254.8 total yards per game. That's the third-best mark in the league behind Michigan and Penn State. Ohio State's run defense has been solid overall, ranking 21st with just 109.5 yards allowed. However, it's home and away splits are a little concerning. The Buckeyes are giving up just 79.8 yards on the ground at home, but are allowing 139.2 yards on the road. That's going to need to be a huge area of emphasis against a strong Michigan run game.

Michigan Wolverines Week 13 Outlook

The Wolverines also enter The Game with a perfect 11-0 record, although they are just 5-5-1 ATS this season. They'll be without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is serving the third game of his three-game suspension for Michigan's sign-stealing scandal. OC Sherrone Moore will continue to serve as acting head coach.

The Wolverines survived a slight scare last weekend, narrowly beating Maryland, 31-24. The Terps' 24 points were the most any team has scored against Michigan this season. That said, its defense has been dominant all season. The Wolverines rank, first in opponents passing yards per game (144.8), fifth in opponent completion percentage (53.96%), and seventh in opponent rushing yards per game (90.7). However, Ohio State's offense will undoubtedly be the toughest it's faced all year.

Offensively for the Wolverines, there is reason for slight concern without Harbaugh on the sidelines. According to The Athletic, in the six games that QB JJ McCarthy has played with his head coach on the sidelines, he's averaging 239 yards per game, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. In the five games without Harbaugh on the sidelines, those numbers dropped to 180 yards per game, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

McCarthy is going to have to play a nearly flawless game and get some help on the ground from RB Blake Corum. The Wolverines' ground game revolves around Corum, who has scored seven rushing TDs in his last three games.

Ohio State at Michigan Best Bet

My Pick: Ohio State +3.5

I expect this game to be extremely close, so getting over a field goal with the Buckeyes feels like great value. McCarthy's numbers without Harbaugh on the sidelines are very concerning. The Buckeyes are by far the best team that Michigan has faced this season and they will be able to match the Wolverines offense in ways that Penn State couldn't. Ohio State has done a great job this year at not giving up explosive plays, which is what cost it last year against Michigan. The Buckeyes lead the nation, allowing just 4.7 yards per pass attempt, which will slow down the Wolverines' air game and force them to beat them on the ground. That plays into Michigan's strengths, but it also makes it more one-dimensional, giving Ohio State an edge. The Buckeyes also have the revenge factor after losing its last two games to Michigan.

I wouldn't be shocked if the Buckeyes won this game outright, but I'm going to play it safe by taking the points.