Michigan State at Ohio State Week 12 College Football Matchup Michigan State at Ohio State Matchup - Week 12
Sat, Nov 20 2021 · Week 12 · 🏟 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH · Turf · 104,944 cap
Michigan State✈ 203 miSame TZ
7 56
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Michigan State
23
OSU -19.5
Ohio State
44
P&R Line Ohio State -20.5
P&R Total O/U 66.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Ohio State -19.5 · O/U 70.5
Matchup Prediction
Ohio State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Ohio State entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
Ohio State wins
Solid
Game Control
76%
Ohio State wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Ohio State -19.5
O/U 70.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Ohio State · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Ohio State 2nd straight Home Game
Michigan State 2021 Schedule
Michigan State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Michigan State at Northwestern+3.0W38–2145.5W38–21OY
Sat 9/11Michigan State vs Youngstown State-28.5W42–1452.0W42–14ON
Sat 9/18Michigan State at Miami+7.0W38–1757.5W38–17UY
Sat 9/25Michigan State vs Nebraska-3.5W23–2055.0W23–20UN
Sat 10/2Michigan State vs Western Kentucky-10.5W48–3166.5W48–31OY
Sat 10/9Michigan State at Rutgers-4.5W31–1350.0W31–13UY
Sat 10/16Michigan State at Indiana-3.5W20–1548.5W20–15UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Michigan State vs Michigan+4.0W37–3350.5W37–33OY
Sat 11/6Michigan State at Purdue-2.5L29–4053.0L29–40ON
Sat 11/13Michigan State vs Maryland-11.5W40–2160.0W40–21OY
Sat 11/20Michigan State at Ohio State+19.5L7–5670.5L7–56UN
Sat 11/27Michigan State vs Penn State+3.5W30–2751.5W30–27OY
Thu 12/30Michigan State vs Pittsburgh-3.5W31–2155.0W31–21UY
Ohio State 2021 Schedule
Ohio State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/2Ohio State at Minnesota-14.0W45–3162.0W45–31ON
Sat 9/11Ohio State vs Oregon-14.5L28–3565.0L28–35UN
Sat 9/18Ohio State vs Tulsa-24.5W41–2060.5W41–20ON
Sat 9/25Ohio State vs Akron-48.5W59–766.5W59–7UY
Sat 10/2Ohio State at Rutgers-15.0W52–1358.0W52–13OY
Sat 10/9Ohio State vs Maryland-22.0W66–1771.5W66–17OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23Ohio State at Indiana-21.0W54–759.0W54–7OY
Sat 10/30Ohio State vs Penn State-18.5W33–2460.5W33–24UN
Sat 11/6Ohio State at Nebraska-14.0W26–1768.5W26–17UN
Sat 11/13Ohio State vs Purdue-19.0W59–3165.5W59–31OY
Sat 11/20Ohio State vs Michigan State-19.5W56–770.5W56–7UY
Sat 11/27Ohio State at Michigan-6.5L27–4263.5L27–42ON
Sat 1/1Ohio State vs Utah-4.5W48–4564.5W48–45ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Ohio State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Ohio State
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Ohio State
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Ohio State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Michigan State
+0.446
Ohio State
+0.659
Ohio State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Michigan State
+0.636
Ohio State
+0.910
Ohio State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Michigan State
0.166
Ohio State
0.193
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Ohio State Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Michigan State
+7.439
Ohio State
+8.309
Ohio State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Michigan State
+0.866
Ohio State
+0.975
Ohio State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Michigan State
70.7
Ohio State
70.4
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Ohio State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Ohio State Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Michigan State
-1.7
Ohio State
27.0
Offense Rating
Michigan State
15.8
Ohio State
29.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Michigan State
17.4
Ohio State
2.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Ohio State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Michigan State #78
0.56
Ohio State #4
2.30
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Michigan State #100
0.89
Ohio State #9
0.20
Ohio State +1.74
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 10 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Ohio State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Michigan State #1
60.5
Ohio State #1
83.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Michigan State #44
25.6
Ohio State #10
10.1
Ohio State +22.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 10 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Ohio State
6 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Ohio State
97.9 — 0.6 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Ohio State won by 49
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Ohio State with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Michigan State
Mel Tucker #1
5–5 (50%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Jay Johnson Yr 1 #1
DC Scottie Hazelton Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Ohio State
Ryan Day #1
25–3 (89%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Kevin Wilson Yr 1 #1
DC Kerry Coombs Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself