Ohio State Preview

Time: 12:00

Location: Big House 

Weather: 25 and 9% ❆

TV: Fox 

Line: OSU -7.5

Dear Jimmy, 

I first like to start off and congratulations on winning 10 games this season.  Your seat has gone from fire to freezing cold which will be Ann Arbor on Saturday.   Your team by most accounts was a 6-6 team heading into the year.   Whatever happens on Saturday your basement is probably a New Year's Day Bowl. 

The one little thing is, if things don't go well tomorrow, you will be 0-2 this year in rivalry games.  As you know, not great.  Let's talk about the Buckeyes for a minute, I'm sure you reviewed tape of the embarrassing loss they put on Sparty last weekend.   Quick, question why did Michigan even try to run the ball against the worst passing defense in the country?  Never mind, let's look forward and not back.  

These Buckeyes have some passing attack and Michigan has played pretty well against the pass this year in a revamped defense by Mike Macdonald.  DJ Turner has played very well lately and I love how our NFL DE's can rush the QB.   The Buckeyes have continued their winning ways against our program by hitting crossing routes, throwing over the top, and QB scrambles for 1st downs.   My guess is they're going to continue that on Saturday.   They also have a young RB that is pretty special, best to keep an eye on him as well. 

I'm on record as saying that Michigan's defense is the reason, you're 0-5 against Ohio State.   Saturday will be a chance to reverse that stance and I sure hope Coach Mac has something for the Buckeyes on Saturday.   Now to the other side of the ball, love the run game but you know the Buckeyes will be sitting on it.   Cade will have to pass to win this game and Michigan cannot waste possessions.    My guess is OSU will be putting up a bunch of crooked numbers, your offense will need to do the same to keep this game close.  Be aggressive on offense.

I know you look to me for tips on the game plan each week and I truly appreciate that.   Here are a few thoughts:

• Run a funky zone that confuses the freshman QB   
• Pressure the QB at all times!  
• Keep the talented OSU WR's in front of the Michigan DB's
• The Blake and Donovan Show, they both need to have a big day catching the ball 
• Time of Possession, the best defense to stop OSU is not having them on the field
• Find the magic and play to win the game 

There you have it.  My thoughts on ways to win the game against the #2 Buckeyes.  With that said, you have a mighty hill to climb on Saturday and you and your team knows it.   If your team doesn't think they can win, they won't.   They have to enter the field expecting a winning outcome.   On the other side, I'm not sure you have had the right coaching and the proper preparedness to win this game the last 5 times.   For OSU they live for this game, it's all they think about.  It's time to match that energy.  

Jimmy, I have asked you to prove it to me a couple times this year.   A few times you have done just that with tough wins at Wisconsin and Penn State.   This is another prove it to me game as I'm still concerned this is an apple to oranges type of match-up.  Michigan seems to be built to beat every team in the Big Ten except one.   It's time to give the big middle finger to everyone and just win this fucking game.  Win the Game! 

Ohio State 48 Michigan 21