College Football Week 13 Odds: Ohio State Liability Mounts Vs Michigan

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET FRIDAY: No surprise, this Big Ten showdown has the most action — combined wagering on the point spread, total and moneyline — of any game on the college football Week 13 odds board at WynnBet. Further, Ohio State is WynnBet’s largest Week 13 liability.

WynnBet initially posted a look-ahead line on this matchup of Ohio State -4.5, and that was bet up to -6 prior to the Buckeyes’ wipeout of Michigan State. Ohio State then went back up at -7.5 last Saturday night, went to -8 and is now back at -7.5. Ticket count is 6/1 and money beyond 9/1 on Ohio State. The total climbed from 62 to 64.5, with ticket count 2/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.

“We’re continuing to see quite a bit of action on Ohio State,” WynnBet senior trader Motoi Pearson said. “Of course, we may see some Michigan buyback before kick, but I’m sure we’ll be rooting on Michigan when it’s all said and done.”

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: On Tuesday, Ohio State moved from No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings to No. 2. The Buckeyes also moved from an 8-point favorite over Michigan to -8.5 at Caesars Sportsbook. And so far, all the action is on Ohio State, with 89% of tickets and 93% of cash on the road chalk. Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said bettors are finding the number attractive, as the Buckeyes haven’t laid less than two touchdowns all season.

“The combination of not being that big of a favorite and how they performed last week against Michigan State is why I think Ohio State has been so popular,” Pullen said. “You rarely get a chance to bet Ohio State at this low of a number, especially in recent years. Michigan also hasn’t beaten [the Buckeyes] in a long time, and people are aware of that fact. I would expect the sharps to get in [on the Wolverines] at some point if it creeps up closer to 10.”

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Ohio State (10-1 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) enters this matchup off an absolute butt-kicking of Michigan State. The Buckeyes led 49-0 at halftime, then put it in cruise control, winning 56-7 as 19-point home favorites to improve to 6-2 ATS in their last eight.

Michigan, which lost at Michigan State on Halloween weekend, hopes to rejoin the CFP chat. The Wolverines (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS) boat-raced Maryland 59-18 laying 16 points on the road in Week 12.

Jim Harbaugh’s squad is now tied with Oklahoma State (also 9-2 ATS) atop the point-spread standings. However, bettors are already speaking Ohio State’s language, with this line going to -8 then -8.5 at TwinSpires. Early ticket count is 4/1 and early cash 6/1 on the Buckeyes.

“All Ohio State money so far. No buyback yet on Michigan. This will be our highest-handle [Week 13] game, without a doubt,” Lucas said.

The total inched up to 64, then went back to 63.5, with 61% of tickets/68% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Oklahoma State is WynnBet’s second-largest liability in the college football Week 13 odds market, after moving from -1.5 to -4 this week. The Cowboys are attracting 67% of spread bets and 72% of spread dollars. The total, which like the spread hit the board last Saturday night, tumbled from 55.5 to 49.5. The Under is 60% of tickets/98% of cash.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Caesars books on Monday nudged Oklahoma State from -3.5 to -4, where the line remains tonight. Ticket count is running 2/1 and money almost 4/1 on the favored Cowboys, who sit No. 7 in this week’s CFP ratings. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is an underdog for the first time this season.

“I’m not surprised at where the line is, but Oklahoma definitely has the more public notoriety,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said. “But anyone who has been watching what Oklahoma State has been doing shouldn’t be surprised that [the Cowboys are] the favorites. They’ve looked unbelievable, and Oklahoma has been nip-and-tuck in a lot of these games, and that resonates with people. But you’re still getting Oklahoma as an underdog, which doesn’t happen very often. I think this will be the best game of the week.”

The total is down a point, from 50.5 to 49.5.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: While Oklahoma State sits No. 7 in the AP poll, it’s No. 9 in the CFP rankings. But with the right mix of results this week and in Week 14 conference championship games, the Cowboys’ playoff hopes certainly aren’t dead yet. Oklahoma State (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS) blanked Texas Tech 23-0 in Week 12, easily cashing as a 10-point road chalk for its ninth consecutive cover.

Oklahoma (10-1 SU, 5-6 ATS) likely spilled its CFP chances with a Week 11 loss at Baylor. The Sooners rebounded from that setback, though, fending off Iowa State 28-21 giving 3 points at home.

This line crept up to Oklahoma State -4 at TwinSpires, with Oklahoma taking 62% of tickets and Oklahoma State seeing 63% of spread money.

“The public is on the ‘dog so far. Sharp money on Oklahoma State -3.5. It’s shaping up as Pros vs. Joes,” Lucas said.

The total dipped to 50.5, with 57% of early tickets on the Over and 72% of early money on the Under.

“Sharp money on Under 51,” Lucas said.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: This game is hardly worth noting, save for the fact that Georgia is the -125 favorite to win the national championship. Caesars opened the Bulldogs as full five-touchdown faves and remains at -35 tonight. Perhaps surprisingly, 92% of early tickets and 99% of early dollars are laying the huge number on Georgia. The total hasn’t moved off 54.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: There are several really good rivalry matchups in Week 13. This isn’t one of them. But we include it simply because Georgia is atop the AP poll and CFP rankings. The Bulldogs (11-0 SU, 7-4 ATS) practically had a bye last week, hammering FCS foe Charleston Southern 56-7 while failing to cash as 51.5-point faves.

At least Charleston Southern scored on the best defense in the country. Georgia Tech (3-8 SU, 4-7 ATS) got shut out at Notre Dame 55-0 as 18-point underdogs.

For the moment, a full five touchdowns is where this line remains at TwinSpires. But early bettors are laying the big number, with 72% of tickets and 70% of cash on Georgia.

“This is already shaping up to be a sizable decision for us. No surprise, we’ll need the ‘dog,” Lucas said.

The total is up a point to 55.5, although 56% of tickets and 59% of dollars are on the Under.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Cincinnati opened -14 at Caesars, spent a few hours Monday at -13.5, then returned to -14 Monday night. Ticket count is 4/1 and money beyond 5/1 on the Bearcats, who this week finally crept into the top four in the College Football Playoff poll at No. 4. The total is unchanged at 58.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: When the latest CFP rankings land Tuesday night, Cincinnati should finally move into the top four, thanks to current No. 3 Oregon losing last week at Utah. The question is: Can the Bears — even with a perfect record — hold off, say, Michigan (should the Wolverines knock off Ohio State) or Oklahoma State? If schedule strength really comes into play, Cincy could be in for a rude surprise in a couple of weeks.

At least Cincinnati finally put up some style points in Week 12. The Bearcats (11-0 SU, 6-5 ATS) faced a decent, though unranked, SMU outfit and rolled 48-14 as 10-point home favorites, halting an 0-4 ATS slide. East Carolina (7-4 SU, 7-3-1 ATS) squeaked by Navy 38-35 laying 3.5 points on the road. It was the Pirates’ fourth straight win, but their six-game spread-covering streak came to an end.

Cincinnati touched -14 briefly in this matchup but is now back to the -13.5 opener at TwinSpires. The Bearcats are seeing 59% of early tickets and 66% of early money. The total rose to 58.5, with 57% of tickets/63% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Alabama rose from -19 to -20 at WynnBet, where 67% of bets and 61% of dollars are on the Crimson Tide. The total is up to 57 from a 55 opener, with almost every ticket (99%) and 84% of money on the Over. And when you add up wagering on the spread/total/moneyline, this SEC clash is taking the second-most action of all games on WynnBet’s college football Week 13 odds board.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Alabama actually fell from No. 2 to No. 3 in this week’s CFP rankings, not that it really matters. Provided ‘Bama does what’s expected at Auburn, then beats Georgia in the SEC title game, the Crimson Tide will be in the four-team playoff with a chance to defend their 2020 national title. Caesars hasn’t moved off ‘Bama -19.5, although Auburn actually drawing 55% of bets/62% of cash on the spread. The total is up a point to 56.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Alabama would be in the playoff catbird seat if not for an upset loss at Texas A&M in Week 6. Even with that, though, ‘Bama (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) is No. 2 in the CFP rankings and on a collision course with Georgia in the SEC championship game Dec. 4.

The Crimson Tide got a firm test to prepare for this week’s Iron Bowl, fending off Arkansas 42-35 as a 20.5-point home chalk.

Auburn has seen its season fall apart of late, with three consecutive SU and ATS setbacks. In Week 11, the Tigers (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) were 7-point favorites at South Carolina and lost outright 21-17.

TwinSpires is still at the opener of ‘Bama -19.5 with ticket count almost 4/1 and money almost 2/1 on the Tide.

“The public is all over Alabama. Nothing sharp on either side yet,” Lucas said.

The total crept up to 55.5, with ticket count 2/1 and money almost 4/1 on the Over.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Penn State opened -1.5 at WynnBet, backed up to -1, then today advanced to -2. That said, Michigan State is landing 52% of tickets and 65% of cash on the spread. The total opened at and is currently 52.5, with 59% of tickets on the Over, but 87% of cash on the Under.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Penn State landed on Caesars’ odds board as a 1-point chalk, the line moved to pick, then made its way to Penn State -1.5 this morning. The Nittany Lions are seeing a modest majority 54% of early bets, but a whopping 98% of early money. The latter is the result of one Nevada customer betting $121,280 on Penn State pick ’em.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Three weeks ago, Michigan State was on top of the world, coming off a modest home upset of Michigan and moving directly into the CFP conversation. But two losses in three weeks have doused any playoff hopes. In Week 12, the Spartans (9-2 SU, 7-2-2 ATS) got rocked at Ohio State 56-7 as a 19-point pup.

Penn State is no longer ranked, yet is the slim road chalk at East Lansing in Week 13. The Nittany Lions (7-4 SU and ATS) blanked Rutgers 28-0 giving 14 points in Week 12.

This line initially moved to pick ’em at TwinSpires, then rebounded to Penn State -1.5. Michigan State is taking 56% of tickets and Penn State 56% of money.

“Good two-way action, with some sharp money on Penn State at pick ’em and -1,” Lucas said.

The total rose to 52, with 60% of tickets on the Under/63% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: WynnBet currently has Notre Dame at -19.5, and it’s all Fighting Irish action, at 93% of tickets/88% of money. The total moved from 51 to 52.5, with 95% of tickets and almost 100% of money currently on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Notre Dame is already out to a 19.5-point chalk at Caesars from Sunday night’s opener of -17. And literally almost all the tickets and money are on the Fighting Irish, who rose to No. 6 when this week’s College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night.

“Teams that need a win versus teams that have seemed to pack it in or are ending a disappointing season, the public perceives that as stuff worth betting on,” Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen said. “That’s especially true with teams in the playoff picture; they’re going to get the majority of the action. Just look at Notre Dame. It’s not too often that you see Notre Dame-Stanford as lopsided as it is this week.”

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Notre Dame is fifth in the AP poll but currently sits eighth in the CFP rankings — one slot ahead of Oklahoma State, despite a less-impressive résumé. Still, the Fighting Irish (10-1 SU, 8-3 ATS) scored some style points with a 55-0 beatdown of Georgia Tech as 18-point home faves. Notre Dame is on an 8-1 ATS roll, having covered in the last six in a row.

Stanford (3-8 SU and ATS) certainly won’t beef up the Irish’s strength of schedule. The Cardinal went to Cal as 2.5-point pups in Week 12 and got bashed 41-11.

TwinSpires already moved Notre Dame out to -19, with early ticket count 5/1 and money beyond 6/1 on the Fighting Irish.

“This is shaping up to be our biggest liability of the college slate,” Lucas said. “Money is pouring in on Notre Dame.”

The total is unchanged, with 55% of tickets on the Under and 59% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET THURSDAY: WynnBet today went from Mississippi State -1.5 to -2, so the line is back at the opener, after dipping as low as pick earlier in the week. Mississippi is netting about 60% of spread bets, while spread money is approaching 80% on Mississippi State. The total is up to 64 from a 62 opener, with tickets and money 2/1-plus on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The Egg Bowl is the first Top 25 game of the weekend, and it kicks off in prime time on Thanksgiving night. And although Mississippi State is unranked, the Bulldogs have been favored all week at Caesars, going from -1 to -2. Ticket count is just shy of 2/1 on Ole Miss, while money is about 2/1 on Mississippi State. The total is out to 64 from a 60.5 opener.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Mississippi boasts a top-10 ranking, but is the shortest of ‘dogs in the annual Egg Bowl showdown. The Rebels (9-2 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) topped Vanderbilt 35-17 last weekend, but fell well short of cashing as massive 35.5-point favorites. Mississippi State (7-4 SU and ATS) ostensibly had a bye against FCS foe Tennessee State, rolling 55-10 and barely cashing as a 44-point chalk.

The line is unchanged early at TwinSpires, with Ole Miss landing 63% of tickets and 61% of money.

“Ole Miss is a public dog,” Lucas said.

The total is up a point to 61.5, with 77% of tickets/72% of money on the Over.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: WynnBet pegged Wisconsin a 6-point favorite at the outset and is now at -6.5 (-115). And bettors are all in on the Badgers, who are collecting 91% of spread tickets and 98% of spread money. The total opened at and is currently 39, even with the Over attracting 98% of tickets/94% of money.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Wisconsin moved from -6.5 to -7 Monday evening at Caesars and remains a touchdown favorite tonight. Ticket count is 2/1-plus and money approaching 9/1 on the Badgers. The total inched up from 38.5 to 39 late Sunday night.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Wisconsin has somewhat quietly won seven in a row (5-2 ATS). In Week 12, the Badgers (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) outlasted Nebraska 35-28 but fell short of cashing as 10-point home favorites. Minnesota (7-4 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) went off as 8-point favorites at Indiana and cruised to a 35-14 victory.

The spread is stable at TwinSpires, where tickets and money are both in the 2/1 range on Wisconsin. The total also didn’t move off a tidy 39 points, but early bettors are hoping for at least a little scoring, with tickets 2/1 and money 4/1 on the Over.

“The public is hammering the Over on this low total,” Lucas said.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: In another Week 13 rivalry game, Oregon opened -6.5 and is up to -7 at WynnBet. The Ducks are drawing a relatively modest 61% of bets, but that’s translating to to 84% of money on the spread. The total climbed from 59.5 to 61 on some wild splits: ticket count is dead even, but 98% of money is on the Over.

UPDATE 11 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The first move on this rivalry game came late Tuesday night, with Oregon dipping from -7 to -6.5. Early ticket count is close, with 52% on Oregon State, but that’s translating into 95% of early cash on the Beavers. The total fell from 62 to 61 Tuesday morning.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Oregon is already down to No. 11 in the AP poll and on Tuesday night is sure to fall from its No. 3 perch in the CFP. That’s because the Ducks (9-2 SU, 4-7 ATS) got housed at Utah 38-7 as very public 3.5-point underdogs. Oregon State (7-4 SU and ATS) was a 3-point ‘dog at Arizona State and emerged with a 24-10 outright win.

The first move at TwinSpires in this “Civil War” matchup was toward the Beavers, with the Ducks dipping to -6.5. Oregon is taking 63% of tickets, while Oregon State is drawing 54% of money.

“Sharp money on Oregon State +7,” Lucas said.

The total hasn’t moved, with 57% of tickets on the Over and 64% of money on the Under.