Oddsmakers don’t expect Michigan to go on a winning streak against Ohio State. This wasn’t expected even after Jim Harbaugh’s squad upset the Buckeyes last fall. FanDuel released more than 80 college football spreads Monday morning.
Now Ohio State fans have a chance to see how their squad may stack up in its major games this fall. The Buckeyes are two-touchdown favorites to beat the Wolverines in the 2022 regular-season finale.
It’s worth noting that Michigan is favored on FanDuel in its other four listed games (Iowa, Penn State, Michigan State, and Nebraska) outside the Ohio State matchup. Much like last season, the rivalry game between the Wolverines and Buckeyes could have College Football Playoff implications.
Double-digit spreads were common for Ryan Day’s team in FanDuel’s recently released lines. Also, a few spreads outside the Michigan game were eye-popping. In addition to being a 14-point favorite against its bitter rival, Ohio State is a 13.5-point favorite in its season opener against Notre Dame.
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The Fighting Irish open up a season without former head coach Brian Kelly with a major challenge against one of the country’s best, and oddsmakers don’t see Notre Dame staying within 10.
The Buckeyes are 16-point favorites in a Sept. 24 home game against Wisconsin, a likely contender to win the Big Ten West. Iowa, another Big Ten West contender, is a 21-point underdog against Ohio State for the Oct. 22 meeting in Columbus.
Ohio State’s sizable spreads show up on the road, too, with the Buckeyes being a 13-point favorite at Penn State on Oct. 29.
Special season in store?
Based on FanDuel’s early lines, there’s tremendous respect for Ohio State entering the 2022 season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud (+200) is FanDuel’s favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. The Buckeyes (+500) have the third-shortest odds to win the national championship.
Other sportsbook operators also like Ohio State’s national title chances, with DraftKings and PointsBet listing the Buckeyes as low as +450 to win the championship. BetMGM goes a shade higher, with Ohio State listed at +600.
Of the five 2022 Ohio State games with spreads available on FanDuel, Ohio State is at least a 13-point favorite in every contest. Matchups with Arkansas State and Toledo will likely have astronomical spreads when released, as the Buckeyes possess a significant talent edge over those two Group of Five programs.
Road matchups with Michigan State and Maryland didn’t yet receive lines on FanDuel, but those are noteworthy conference clashes with some upset potential. Michigan State went 11-2 last season, while Maryland went 7-6 and showed signs of improvement under head coach Mike Locksley.
The Terrapins defeated Virginia Tech 54-10 in their bowl game. Ohio State has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 139-31. The last meeting in College Park was a 52-51 overtime win for the Buckeyes.
