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By Max Meyer

With 23 games involving top-25 teams this upcoming week, this is the last or second-to-last chance for many of the top contenders to give one good impression for their postseason fate. Even though only two of those contests feature ranked teams squaring off against one another, they’re two of the most crucial matchups of the year given what’s at stake.

The winners of No. 2 Ohio State at No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State will keep their championship dreams alive, while the loser will likely be left to contemplate what could have been in a successful campaign.

Let’s take a look at how Caesars Sportsbook bettors are wagering on these single-digit spreads, as well as which sides in this top-25 slate have been the most popular early on.

It’ll be the 116th meeting between Ohio State and Michigan after these fierce rivals did not play last season due to COVID-19. The Wolverines hold the series edge at 58-51-6, however the Buckeyes have triumphed in the last eight of these showdowns.

With Ohio State currently favored by 8 points on the road over Michigan, this could be the first time the Buckeyes haven’t laid at least 10 points this season.

“The combination of not being that big of a favorite and how they performed last week against Michigan State is why I think Ohio State has been so popular,” said Adam Pullen, Assistant Director of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. “You rarely get a chance to bet Ohio State at this low of a number, especially in recent years. Michigan also hasn’t beaten them in a long time, and people are aware of that fact. I would expect the sharps to get in at some point if it continues to creep up closer to 10.”

The spread for Oklahoma at Oklahoma State is even tighter, as the Sooners are getting points for the first time this campaign at +4. Just like Ohio State at Michigan, many Caesars Sportsbook bettors are siding with the favorite. The Cowboys have nabbed 65% of the total number of tickets and 78% of the total dollars wagered.

“I’m not surprised at where the line is, but I definitely think Oklahoma has the more public notoriety,” Pullen said. “But if anyone who has been watching what Oklahoma State has been doing shouldn’t be surprised that they’re favorites. They’ve looked unbelievable, and Oklahoma has been nip and tuck in a lot of these games, and that resonates with people. But you’re still getting Oklahoma as an underdog, which doesn’t happen very often. I think this will be the best game of the week.”

Three other teams currently ranked inside the top-6 for the College Football Playoff are getting overwhelming action on their spread. No. 6 Notre Dame (-19.5 at Stanford) has racked up 99% for both total number of tickets and total dollars wagered, while No. 1 Georgia (-35 at Georgia Tech) is at 92% and 99% whereas No. 4 Cincinnati (-14 at ECU) has pulled in 80% and 84%.

“Teams that need a win versus teams that have seemed to pack it in or ending a disappointing season, the public perceives that as stuff that they’re going to bet on,” Pullen said. “That’s especially true with the teams in the playoff picture, they’re going to get the majority of the action. Just look at Notre Dame, it’s not too often that you see it as lopsided as Notre Dame-Stanford.”

The only underdog facing a top-6 team that Caesars Sportbook bettors think will cover the number is Auburn vs. No. 3 Alabama in the Iron Bowl. The Tigers are 19.5-point home underdogs, yet have the advantage in total number of tickets (55%) and total dollars wagered (62%).

There is one team that is now a rare unranked road favorite over a ranked foe that has drawn significant action on the spread. A Nevada bettor put a combined $121,280 on Penn State pick’em at No. 12 Michigan State for a total potential payout of $231,534.55. The Nittany Lions are slight 1-point chalk in East Lansing.

Check out Caesars Sportsbook’s latest odds and trends for every Week 13 spread involving a top-25 team below.