Wolverines underdogs against 3 main football rivals
6/30/2014The oddsmakers in Las Vegas have circled the top games in college football this year, and Michigan is among that group.
However, the prognostications are split in regards to the Wolverines.
The Golden Nugget Casino recently released betting odds for the top 200 college football games — contests they’ve dubbed “Games of the Year” — including six Michigan games.
In those six games, the Wolverines are favorites in three: they’re a 12-point pick Sept. 27 against Minnesota, a seven-point favorite Oct. 11 against Penn State, and a three-point favorite Nov. 8 at Northwestern.
But the odds are against the Wolverines against their three marquee rivals.
Notre Dame is a three-point favorite on Sept. 6 in South Bend, Ind., while Michigan State is a 7.5-point favorite Oct. 25 in East Lansing, Mich.
Ohio State, whom the Wolverines have beaten only three times since 2000, is an eight-point favorite on Nov. 29 in Columbus.
The LVH SuperBook in Las Vegas gave Michigan 75-1 odds to win the College Football Playoff championship, while VegasInsider.com gave Michigan 65-1 odds to win the championship.
The LVH SuperBook also gave Ohio State 10-1 odds to win the national championship.
While Bovada.lv did not list odds for any Michigan players to win the 2014 Heisman Trophy, one local player is listed among the odds to win the trophy annually given to the top player in college football: Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson, at 66-1 to win the Heisman. He is a longshot by Vegas standards.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, the 2013 Heisman winner, is listed at 13-4 to win the Heisman, ahead of Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (11-2) and Ohio State’s Braxton Miller (7-1).
Contact Rachel Lenzi at: rlenzi@theblade.com, 419-724-6510, or on Twitter @RLenziBlade.