Ohio State opens as 4.5 point favorites against Michigan

The early consensus amongst Vegas and offshore sports books are that Ohio State are in the driver seat to finish the 2012 football season a perfect 12-0. The oddsmakers have Ohio State opening on average as a 4.5 point favorites over the hated Michigan Wolverines. Whether that's in direct response to Michigan being limited to Denard Robinson playing running back, the Buckeyes being at home, their general momentum after defeating Wisconsin 21-14 in overtime Saturday night, or a combination of such factors remains to be seen.

The Buckeyes hadn't lost in seven straight tries (the vacated 2010 contest included) before last year's 40-34 loss in Ann Arbor to the eventual Sugar Bowl Champion Michigan Wolverines. Braxton Miller as a freshman had one of his best games of his early career in that one, however, and even in lieu of the presence of former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer's assistant Greg Mattison running the Michigan defense, Miller and company may deserve the benefit of the doubt given how well they perspectively match up against this year's side.