Betting: Will Michigan cover +8.5 vs. Ohio State?
Pamela Maldonado joins Minty Bets to give her best bet for Week 13 of the college football season. She also gives her pick for Michigan vs. Ohio State.
Video Transcript
MINTY BETS: It's week 13 of the college football season. I'm Minty Bets joined by Pam Maldonado to give us her best bet this week. Pam, what do you have for us?
PAMELA MALDONADO: A big ass favorite. I am rolling with Notre Dame minus 18 and 1/2 on the road to Stanford. Notre Dame, they still have a shot here to make the playoff. You know they're going to be fighting and hungry and wanting to absolutely feast on the Cardinals.
Stanford has scored 14 points or less in four straight games, while allowing 52 points at home to Utah and 41 points at home to Cal. Now the Fighting Irish defense has limited opponents to nine combined points in three straight games. Stanford will also be without their third best wide receiver in a John Humphreys, and after playing five separate quarterbacks in the last three games, starting quarterback Tanner McKee, he did get the start against Cal, but in that game threw zero passing touchdowns and two interceptions and has thrown seven interceptions in his last four games played.
Now why does that matter? Because Notre Dame is tied for third best in the country at forcing interceptions. They have a top 10 quarterback pressure unit and Stanford is bottom 40 in quarterback protection.
You can also look for an in-game total for Stanford team total under. You can look for an in-game team total over for Notre Dame. There's a lot of ways that you can play this in-game, but pregame, I'm liking Notre Dame minus 18 and 1/2 at Stanford to absolutely just roll.
MINTY BETS: Now onto the marquee game of the week, as Michigan hosts Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 8 and 1/2 point favorites and the total is 64 and 1/2. What do you think about this one, Pam?
PAMELA MALDONADO: I'm looking to Michigan plus 8 and 1/2 at home to Ohio State. I know it's a bit contrarian because I did say that I like Ohio State to win the National title, but Michigan, this is a team that can absolutely contend in this spot. Yes, hear me out, Harbaugh's team can contend against one of the best offenses in all of college football.
The big difference between Michigan State and Michigan is that the Spartans have a one man show in Kenneth Walker III, while Michigan has a two man punch in Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. Both of these running backs have 23 combined scores, account for 1,800 to the 2,400 total rushing yards. I do need Blake Corum to play in this game, though, for me to feel comfortable firing on this line.
Corum, he has been out from injury. I would like to see him in this game. He is questionable right now at the time of recording, but both-- if you have both backs in this game, can Michigan offense contend? The answer is yes and it's because of the Michigan defense also.
Michigan is top 10 against the pass, unlike Michigan State who is dead last in passing yards allowed, and performed well, even beat Nebraska, allowing quarterback Adrian Martinez 10.4 yards per pass, which tells me that this defense is still able to contend even if they do give up some yardage. This is a good defense for Michigan. I'm going to say it this, is Harbaugh's most complete team in recent years. And Ohio State, CJ Stroud, absolutely dominated last week.
Should have against the worst secondary in all of college football. but against other good defenses, defeated Penn State by 9, defeated Nebraska by 9, both of which are top 20 in opponent touchdowns allowed. Michigan is seventh in opponent red zone scores, 10th in opponent touchdowns allowed. The difference here is that Michigan has an offense this time around.
Ohio State wins, Michigan gets the cover. I also think I like the under for the reasons mentioned. The Buckeyes against those good defenses, 57 points or less scored in both. I'll take the home dog plus 8 and 1/2, but I still do like Ohio State to win.
MINTY BETS: To recap Pam's best bet is Notre Dame minus 18 and 1/2 over Stanford and the marquee game of the week, she likes Michigan plus 8 and 1/2 over Ohio State. Bet $1 on any game and win $100 free. Sign up now at betmgm.com/yahoospecial.