It's nearly Saturday.
Like we do every week, we take a look at a few games around the country that head coach Ryan Day and the rest of the coaching staff could be keeping their eyes on as the Buckeyes take on Purdue at 3:30 p.m.
All lines are from BetMGM.
No. 6 Michigan at Penn State: 12 p.m., ABC
Both Michigan and Penn State have things to prove Saturday afternoon.
For the Wolverines, it's about being that "more complete team" than Michigan State heading into the final stretch of the 2021 season, using the Big Ten's top run game and its No. 2 passing defense in the conference to show its worthy of remaining in the hunt for a conference title. For the Nittany Lions, it's about earning respect after sitting outside of the College Football Playoff committee's top-25 despite wins against Wisconsin and Auburn: two teams that sit at No. 18 and No. 17, respectively.
So what will Day be watching for in this one? First, the status of Michigan RB Blake Corum. The Wolverines' running-back room has been a two-headed monster of Corum and Hassan Haskins and when Corum went down against Indiana last weekend, Haskins took control: recording 168 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. This is a rush defense that allowed only three rushes of 10 yards or more by Ohio State freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson compared to five rushes for loss. How will the Michigan run game respond if it's short-handed against a defense that allowed 3.7 yards per rush and only seven rushing touchdowns this season.
Second, Day will get a glimpse of what Michigan's pass defense does against a challenge. The Wolverines have allowed 173.4 passing yards per game, nine passing touchdowns and a 54.2% completion rate, but has not seen a passing offense that's ranked higher than No. 6 in the Big Ten — a Michigan State team Michigan allowed 196 yards and two interceptions to, but still lost. Sean Clifford and Penn State will be the Wolverines' toughest challenge yet.
While Penn State is not ranked, this is another big challenge for Michigan, one that can show the Ohio State coaching staff a lot prior to the final week of the 2021 regular season.
My pick: Michigan -1.5
No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 13 Baylor: 12 p.m., FOX
The Big 12 is by no means out of the College Football Playoff hunt.
While Oklahoma sits at No. 8 while being undefeated, the Playoff committee seems to be waiting on the Sooners to prove something against what it deems a quality team, raising its strength of schedule, which would lead to a higher ranking. This is the game to do it: facing a Baylor team that is undefeated at home, beating Iowa State, Texas and BYU in Waco. The Bears have the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference, helped by Abram Smith and a run game that is the best in the Big 12, averaging 230.9 yards per game and 5.9 yards per rush, scoring 24 of its 40 touchdowns on the ground. The Bears have the No. 3 scoring defense in the conference, allowing 20.6 points per game, with only 21 touchdowns in nine games.
However, Baylor hasn't seen a passing offense like the Sooners yet. The Bears' biggest test came against West Virginia, allowing 237 yards, a touchdowns and an interception to Jarrett Doege. But Oklahoma holds the No. 1 pass offense in the Big 12 by more than 25 yards, averaging nine yards per pass attempt with 25 touchdowns. Caleb Williams will face a Baylor pass defense that allows 237.8 yards per game — No. 8 in the Big 12 — and 7.5 yards per pass attempt.
What is Day looking for in this game? What we all are watching for: if Oklahoma can take advantage of the opportunity given, boosting its stock in the Playoff hunt as the season nears its end.
My pick: Oklahoma -5.5
No. 7 Michigan State vs. Maryland: 4 p.m., FOX
Watch out Michigan State. There's another dominant pass offense coming to town.
The Spartans have had a notoriously bad pass defense all season long, allowing 326.7 passing yards per game — 71.7 yards more than Maryland at No. 13 — 15 passing touchdowns and a 64% completion rate. Michigan State made Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell look unstoppable, recording 536 yards and three touchdowns with a 74.1% completion rate.
Now, it's Taulia Tagovailoa's turn. In the past two weeks against Indiana and Penn State, the Maryland quarterback has averaged 395 passing yards per game, completing 69.1% of his passes with three touchdowns and an interception.
What should Day watch for? Can Tagovailoa preview what C.J. Stroud can do against the Spartans Nov. 20?
My pick: Maryland +13
Other games to watch
Last week against the spread: 2-6; Overall: 18-22
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 19 Purdue: 3:30 p.m., ABC — Purdue +21
No. 1 Georgia at Tennessee: 3:30 p.m., CBS — Georgia -20.5
No. 11 Texas A&M at No. 15 Ole Miss: 7 p.m., ESPN — Ole Miss +2.5
No. 9 Notre Dame at Virginia: 7:30 p.m., ABC — Virginia +5
Coastal Carolina vs. Georgia State: 2 p.m., ESPN+ — Coastal Carolina -10.5
Like we do every week, we take a look at a few games around the country that head coach Ryan Day and the rest of the coaching staff could be keeping their eyes on as the Buckeyes take on Purdue at 3:30 p.m.
All lines are from BetMGM.
No. 6 Michigan at Penn State: 12 p.m., ABC
Both Michigan and Penn State have things to prove Saturday afternoon.
For the Wolverines, it's about being that "more complete team" than Michigan State heading into the final stretch of the 2021 season, using the Big Ten's top run game and its No. 2 passing defense in the conference to show its worthy of remaining in the hunt for a conference title. For the Nittany Lions, it's about earning respect after sitting outside of the College Football Playoff committee's top-25 despite wins against Wisconsin and Auburn: two teams that sit at No. 18 and No. 17, respectively.
So what will Day be watching for in this one? First, the status of Michigan RB Blake Corum. The Wolverines' running-back room has been a two-headed monster of Corum and Hassan Haskins and when Corum went down against Indiana last weekend, Haskins took control: recording 168 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. This is a rush defense that allowed only three rushes of 10 yards or more by Ohio State freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson compared to five rushes for loss. How will the Michigan run game respond if it's short-handed against a defense that allowed 3.7 yards per rush and only seven rushing touchdowns this season.
Second, Day will get a glimpse of what Michigan's pass defense does against a challenge. The Wolverines have allowed 173.4 passing yards per game, nine passing touchdowns and a 54.2% completion rate, but has not seen a passing offense that's ranked higher than No. 6 in the Big Ten — a Michigan State team Michigan allowed 196 yards and two interceptions to, but still lost. Sean Clifford and Penn State will be the Wolverines' toughest challenge yet.
While Penn State is not ranked, this is another big challenge for Michigan, one that can show the Ohio State coaching staff a lot prior to the final week of the 2021 regular season.
My pick: Michigan -1.5
No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 13 Baylor: 12 p.m., FOX
The Big 12 is by no means out of the College Football Playoff hunt.
While Oklahoma sits at No. 8 while being undefeated, the Playoff committee seems to be waiting on the Sooners to prove something against what it deems a quality team, raising its strength of schedule, which would lead to a higher ranking. This is the game to do it: facing a Baylor team that is undefeated at home, beating Iowa State, Texas and BYU in Waco. The Bears have the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference, helped by Abram Smith and a run game that is the best in the Big 12, averaging 230.9 yards per game and 5.9 yards per rush, scoring 24 of its 40 touchdowns on the ground. The Bears have the No. 3 scoring defense in the conference, allowing 20.6 points per game, with only 21 touchdowns in nine games.
However, Baylor hasn't seen a passing offense like the Sooners yet. The Bears' biggest test came against West Virginia, allowing 237 yards, a touchdowns and an interception to Jarrett Doege. But Oklahoma holds the No. 1 pass offense in the Big 12 by more than 25 yards, averaging nine yards per pass attempt with 25 touchdowns. Caleb Williams will face a Baylor pass defense that allows 237.8 yards per game — No. 8 in the Big 12 — and 7.5 yards per pass attempt.
What is Day looking for in this game? What we all are watching for: if Oklahoma can take advantage of the opportunity given, boosting its stock in the Playoff hunt as the season nears its end.
My pick: Oklahoma -5.5
No. 7 Michigan State vs. Maryland: 4 p.m., FOX
Watch out Michigan State. There's another dominant pass offense coming to town.
The Spartans have had a notoriously bad pass defense all season long, allowing 326.7 passing yards per game — 71.7 yards more than Maryland at No. 13 — 15 passing touchdowns and a 64% completion rate. Michigan State made Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell look unstoppable, recording 536 yards and three touchdowns with a 74.1% completion rate.
Now, it's Taulia Tagovailoa's turn. In the past two weeks against Indiana and Penn State, the Maryland quarterback has averaged 395 passing yards per game, completing 69.1% of his passes with three touchdowns and an interception.
What should Day watch for? Can Tagovailoa preview what C.J. Stroud can do against the Spartans Nov. 20?
My pick: Maryland +13
Other games to watch
Last week against the spread: 2-6; Overall: 18-22
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 19 Purdue: 3:30 p.m., ABC — Purdue +21
No. 1 Georgia at Tennessee: 3:30 p.m., CBS — Georgia -20.5
No. 11 Texas A&M at No. 15 Ole Miss: 7 p.m., ESPN — Ole Miss +2.5
No. 9 Notre Dame at Virginia: 7:30 p.m., ABC — Virginia +5
Coastal Carolina vs. Georgia State: 2 p.m., ESPN+ — Coastal Carolina -10.5
