Michigan has beaten Ohio State three years in a row in college football's biggest rivalry and had a strong run last season leading to a national championship game, but with big changes happening at the northern school, the Buckeyes feel like this is the year to make a comeback.
And looking at the latest odds from Las Vegas sportsbooks, experts seem to think Ohio State will beat its rival, and do so fairly easily.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook's line, Ohio State is listed as a 9.5-point favorite against Michigan State in the 2024 edition of The Game, which includes an over/under projection of 47.5 points.
Considering FanDuel's numbers, it implies a score of 28.5-19 in favor of the Buckeyes, or 29-19 if you round it up, which would be enough to cover the 9.5-point difference and go over the point total.
Both teams will look very different this season with some player exodus and notable acquisitions, especially via the transfer portal.
Defending national champion Michigan is making major overhauls this season, replacing head coach Jim Harbaugh with Sherone Moore and replacing both coordinators, the starting quarterback and much of the offensive line and wide receiver rotation.
Key returnees include tailback Donovan Edwards, cornerback Will Johnson and defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.
Ohio State retains defensive contributors on the wing, including starting Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, running back Treveion Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
And the Buckeyes made a big splash in the transfer portal, adding five-star safety Caleb Downs from Alabama to the secondary and veteran quarterback Will Howard under center, while also adding two-time SEC rushing champion Quinshon Judkins from Mississippi to share the backfield with Henderson.
According to FanDuel, Ohio State is currently ranked second in the nation with odds of +440 to win the national championship, while Michigan State is ranked 10th with odds of +2500 to win back-to-back championships.
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