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Location: Ohio Stadium
Weather: 51 & 80% rain
TV: Fox
Steam: Fox2Go
Line: Michigan -4.5
This game needs no introduction. It stands on its own. It's just a football game but it's called The Game, because this is the best rivalry in college football and maybe the best rivalry in all of sports. Ohio State has dominated the series lately and that run came after Michigan dominated the series. Its a rivalry that's born out of hate and respect.
Both teams come in 10-1 with loses to Indiana teams. OSU got blown out by Purdue and Michigan lost it opener by 7 to #3 ranked Notre Dame. You could make a case that Ohio State hasn't faced a good team all year and the one Michigan faced beat them on the first day of the season. Winner goes to the Indy, the loser probably goes to the Rose Bowl. Which seems strange and ironic.
Tale of the Tape:
Michigan Dline vs. OSU Oline = Michigan
Michigan Oline vs. OSU Dline = OSU
Michigan RB's vs. OSU LB's = Michigan
OSU Passing game vs. Michigan's DB's = OSU
Coaching = Push
Intangibles = Push
Momentum= Michigan
I have watched plenty of Ohio State football to know one thing. They have played poorly pretty much all year. I don't know if its the holes in the defense, Urban's health/off field issues, or rumors of his retirement. Pretty much every game has been competitive whether they were playing Penn State or Maryland.
The OSU offense is the classic dink and dunk passing game. The whole plan is to get the ball into their playmakers hands. The OSU WR group is very talented and can take a WR screen to the house if the Wolverines are in the wrong defense or a DB misses a tackle. The running game has been developing over the past couple of weeks and look for that to be a main point if it's raining in CBus during the game. Urban knows plenty about Michigan, so expect a bunch of QB runs from Haskins (who usually doesn't run) because he knows that is a weakness in Michigan's defense when Brown blitzes he leaves the middle of the field wide open.
The OSU defense has been giving up a ton of big runs and the Maryland game last week was no exception. The OSU LB's have struggled and if Michigan offensive line can give Higdon and Evans some holes there are yards to be made.
Yell how far of a drive is it from Columbus to Indy? if...………………
- Shea protects the ball and has a day running for first downs and hitting WR's
- The Michigan OLine plays great
- Michigan's DLine stays in their rush lanes
- Don Brown's defense is confusing Haskins and Urban
- Michigan is gaining yards in the running game
- Michigan DB's tackle well and don't get beat deep
Yell, This F**king Sucks every year if...……………..
- Whatever new offense OSU has confuses and surprises Michigan D
- OSU is able to stop Michigan's running game
- The rain makes the game a sloppy turnover fest
- Michigan's road woes continue
- Game looks more like ND then the Wisconsin game
OSU will not be the team we have seen all year. They will be playing with a chip on their shoulder as a home underdog. They will look completely different on both sides of the ball, because they always do against Michigan. They also realize that the roles have changed and even though the Buckeyes have talent, Michigan is the better team this year. Michigan has the #1 total defense in the country, OSU's is ranked 75th.
Michigan has not looked good the last two weeks against Rutgers and Indiana. They have given up long runs and some yards in the passing game. Playing like that in this game will get them beat. They have to find the Revenge Tour mojo and that might be difficult if Chase is in street clothes. Michigan has to protect the middle of the field better then they did last week, while still getting pressure on Haskins. Shea also has to play smart on offense, find Gentry, and the talented WR group for first downs and long drives. If Michigan can get over 200 yards on the ground, I think they win this game. A great defense and a good running game travels. Time to flip the script.
Michigan 24 OSU 13
from The BIG HOUSE Blog http://mbighouse.blogspot.com/2018/11/ohio-state-preview.html
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