Court, not field, is where UM is losing

With Michigan backing down and agreeing to the Big Ten’s three-game suspension of Jim Harbaugh, we can surmise that more damning evidence emerged and/​or UM didn’t believe it had a winning hand.

It doesn’t take the Hardy Boys to deduce that Michigan firing linebackers coach Chris Partridge without explanation Friday — and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale deleting his X account — are not great signs.

Either way, let us momentarily direct our attention from the courtroom to the field.

Here are our picks for the games before The Game:

Minnesota (5-5, 3-4) at No. 3 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0), 4 p.m., Saturday, Big Ten Network

■ Line: Ohio State by 27½

Ohio State and Michigan are both 10-0, with one of them hosting a team from the Big Ten West, the other traveling to play Maryland.

But enough about last season. While Ohio State and Michigan nearly stumbled the week before their undefeated clash last season — the Buckeyes escaped at Maryland; UM beat Illinois on a last-season field goal — it’s hard to see history repeating.

I mean, three-win Purdue had a cool 604 yards against Minnesota last week. The Buckeyes will roll …

■ Pick: Ohio State 45, Minnesota 17

No. 2 Michigan (10-0, 7-0) at Maryland (6-4, 3-4), noon, Saturday, Fox

■ Line: Michigan by 19

… and so will Michigan. While we can debate the impact of Harbaugh’s absence against Ohio State, it won’t make a bit of difference against a Terrapins team that’s lost four of their last five games.

■ Pick: Michigan 38, Maryland 14

Toledo (10-1, 7-0) at Central Michigan (5-6, 3-4), noon, Friday, ESPNU

■ Line: Not yet available

The Chippewas are playing for bowl eligibility, but as long as the Rockets are half as determined as the hosts are desperate, they should be fine. Toledo has too much on the line to let its guard down now. Right? Right?!?!

■ Pick: Toledo 31, Central Michigan 17

Bowling Green State University (6-5, 4-3) at Western Michigan (4-7, 3-4), 7 p.m., Tuesday, ESPNU

■ Line: Not yet available

The Falcons can clinch their first winning season since 2015.

For a program that ranked among the nation’s worst just a couple years ago, that’s no small feat — and no small milepost on the road back to championship contention. Expect Bowling Green to take advantage.

■ Pick: Bowling Green 28, Western Michigan 24

No. 1 Georgia (10-0) at No. 21 Tennessee (7-3), 3:30 p.m., Saturday, CBS

■ Line: Georgia by 10

What figured to be Georgia’s toughest test of the regular season now looks like just another box to be checked. More and more, the Bulldogs are again resembling the team to beat, fresh off a statement rout of No. 10 Ole Miss that featured the return of star tight end Brock Bowers.

■ Pick: Georgia 34, Tennessee 20

No. 5 Washington (10-0) at No. 10 Oregon State (8-2), 7:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC

■ Line: Oregon State by 2½

The rest of the Pac-12 might be leaving Oregon State — and Washington State — in the cold, but not before the Beavers give Washington a don’t-let-the-door-hit-you parting gift, spoiling the Huskies’ national title hopes.

■ Pick: Oregon State 28, Washington 27

Contact David Briggs at dbriggs@theblade.com or on Twitter @DBriggsBlade.