Michigan State Spartans (7-2 SU, 6-3 ATS) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2 SU, 4-5 ATS)
College Football Week 11
Date and Time: Saturday, November 11th, 2017 12:00 PM ET
Where: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH
TV: FOX
by Keith F., Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: MSU +14.5/BUCKS -14.5
Over/Under Total: 55
It seems that every week the B1G has yet another pivotal conference clash on the slate with enormous implications. This week the affair is another rivalry game featuring two of the most recognized names in the conference. The Ohio State Buckeyes will host the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, November 11th, 2017. The kick-off time is slotted for 12:00 PM ET and will be televised for national audiences on FOX. This contest has conference stakes on the line as the winner all but clinches the B1G East Division to meet with a likely Wisconsin in the B1G Championship in a few weeks time. The last meeting between the two in East Lansing in 2016 was nothing short of a spectacle, as the contest was settled by a failed Michigan State two-point conversion. Overall the series has been quite balanced be that each time has won three of the previous six contests.
Ohio State comes into this contest off what has to be one of the shockers of the weekend when the Iowa Hawkeyes laid waste to the Buckeyes in Kinnick Stadium by a score of 55-24. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points despite getting dominated by the Black and Yellow. Despite two ugly losses now on the season, Ohio State remains #2 in the ESPN FPI. This anecdote is one of controversy as many college football enthusiasts have garnered this as a joke. The resume for the Buckeyes speaks for itself. They have not one but two ugly losses this season and can only salvage their campaign with a B1G Championship. To do so, they must make it past two adversaries from the state of Michigan over the span of the final three weeks. Given the fact they get this one in The Horseshoe they have the benefit of a home-cooking on their side.
The Spartans enter off a thrilling win when they hosted rival Penn State in East Lansing last weekend. Sparty came into the Battle for the Land Grant Trophy on the heels of a bitter overtime loss at Northwestern. The result had no effect on the Spartans. Sparty as a whole continues to defy expectations as they now can potentially finish with ten wins in the regular season despite being forecasted as struggling to win six in the pre-season. The Spartans have punched their ticket to a bowl game with ease and are likely in position to be playing for a venue of even more prestige given the fact their ceiling has already been eclipsed. Ohio State on the other hand has to be considered a disappointment of the 2017 season.
Currently in this market, the public have hopped all over the Spartans. Such an effect is likely to produced given what the achieved against the Nittany Lions as a double-digit dog last week. According to market data, nearly all are in on Michigan State. 100% of the consensus like MSU complemented by 95% of the cash and 81% of the tickets rolling in on Sparty. As a result, the asking price for Ohio State has plummeted by nearly a field goal. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the number drop by half of a point to its current position of 55 indicating action on the Under.
Playing chalk and swallowing points has its disadvantages. However, this may be the rare case where such an endeavor can pay off. The stock in Ohio State is at a tremendous low now after losing their second game this season in such a heinous manner. The number presented next to Michigan State has created a frenzy as it appears to be a gift to all takers. However, that gift may be a lump of coal. Ohio State has failed to cover in the previous two weeks and the market is acutely aware of this. A slip-up is very unlikely a third week in a row. Michigan State took advantage of a beleaguered Penn State team last week and it is likely Ohio State took Iowa lightly as well. However, preparation will be at a premium this week for the Buckeyes and they will look to make an exclamation point with a big win at home.
Keiths Pick to Cover the Point Spread: OHIO STATE -14.5 – Move the line on this game up to 20 points by inserting it into a 20 point football teaser at the web’s best sportsbook: 5dimes!