Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines Prediction, Odds and Picks for Saturday, 11/29/25

The Ohio State Buckeyes may have won the national title last year, but I can promise you one thing, Buckeye Nation has not forgotten about the 13-10 home loss to Michigan – OSU’s lone blemish on an otherwise memborable season. In fact, I would argue the fanbase dwells more on that loss than it celebrates the championship at times, but that’s the beauty of college athletics – rivalries just mean that much more. 

After losing 8 in a row to the Buckeyes, the Wolverines have rattled off 4 straight wins, but I sense that streak is going to end this year. I said that last year, but this year I really mean it. I don’t even need to reference stats, and I don’t need to sell how important this game is for the Buckeyes. Being from Ohio myself, even if I am not an OSU alum, I just know. This game means more than a regular season game, and it’s not even because of what’s at stake as it pertains to the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff seeding, it’s because it’s Michigan, and it’s about revenge. Plain and simple. This game has been circled since the moment Ryan Day walked in his office after the mystifying 3-point loss last year, and I can assure you, the Buckeyes will be ready for this one – and they’re not going to let up.

If you want some stats and information, I have some for you. Michigan is extremely banged up right now. Starting RB Justice Haynes is out, as is starting safety Rod Moore. Meanwhile, starting FB Max Bredeson (a key blocker) and LB Ernest Hausmann are questions at this moment. If these guys can walk without a limp and endure pain without more than a grimace, I expect them to play – as I expect both Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate to play. 

When completely healthy, this Ohio State offense is eons better than Michigan’s. The Buckeyes are top-10 in almost every offensive stat category imaginable, and the same can be said about the defensive side of the ball. On the contrary, Michigan has a middling-to-below-average offense outside of its run game – which OSU is likely to stifle. Defensively, the Wolverines just haven’t been good enough down-to-down or in scoring situations to make me think they are going to suffocate the Buckeyes like they did last year. After all, most of Michigan’s defensive stalwarts from last year’s edition of The Game are now in the NFL. 

I get it – laying double digits in a rivalry game on the road in wintry conditions isn’t ideal, but none of it matters here. Ohio State imposes its will, Michigan struggles to get going, and the Buckeyes put away the Wolverines convincingly. 

Ohio State vs Michigan prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes -9.5 (-120) at the time of publishing. Playable to -11.

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