Weather: 35 No Rain
TV: Fox (Johnson & Klatt)
Line: Michigan -3.5
Here we are again, two undefeated teams that hate each other. I lived in Cincinnati for 9 years and can tell you the hate for Michigan is unhealthy for folks in Ohio. Many OSU fans put the Fanatics in Fan. The Buckeyes head to Ann Arbor as the #2 ranked team because they beat Penn State and ND two teams that play good defense but are limited on the other side of the ball. Our beloved Wolverines have a similar record against UNLV and Penn State as well. If that made you chuckle, the Running Rebels are at top of the standings in the Mountain West right now. At least they play in a conference!
The difference in this years match-up is Michigan has had a ton of off the field turmoil with the Big Ten and NCAA and Jim Harbaugh won't be on the sideline for this historic match-up. The new Big Ten boss sure loves him some Michigan so early in his tenure. Which I predict will be a short one.
Dear Jimmy,
I don't have to remind anyone what weekend this is. Where ever you will be watching this game (best guess Schembechler Hall or at home), its going to be painful. I think you used the analogy of missing games, like a baseball bat to the knee cap. That's about right.
Before I talk about the Buckeyes, I want to address last weeks game against Maryland. Yes, Michigan has traditionally struggled focusing the week before the OSU game. Last years winning field goal by Moody or back in the Carr days when a Ball State team led by Brady Hoke came an incompletion away from upsetting an undefeated Wolverines. Still, that game lacked focus and energy from your team and makes me wonder if the off field BS if finally getting to your team. It's one thing to have discussions about a lower level staffer, its another when you have to fire your LB coach and not have your head coach for the most important games of the season. Good teams win when they play poorly and Michigan did that last week.
Now on to the Buckeyes. Sherrone has been ultra conservative the last two weeks in the play calling and I assume you understand that won't fly on Saturday. JJ is the key to winning this game for Michigan, he has to be laser accurate on hitting the Wolverine WR's and TE's. OSU won't want you running over them again and will stack the box and hope JJ gets flustered. When Michigan runs on 1st and 2nd downs and gets in a 3rd and 5, its an obvious passing down and Michigan's' OL has not been holding up to the pass rush. Expect a ton of blitzes and heavy pressure all day.
On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan has to do 2 things very well to win this game. 1 - Shutdown the OSU run game and 2- limit big plays from the Buckeye WR's. We all know how good Marvin Harrison is but the other WR's are very skilled as well. They will dink and dunk your defense for first downs and then hit you over the top. The secondary against Tua 2 was shakey and the pass rush was either getting home or non-existent. I would caution Jesse Minter on blitzing too much like he did against TCU. I assume Will Johnson and a safety over the top will be focused on Marvin all afternoon.
Get the team ready mentally today and then let them execute on Saturday. I'm happy Corum is healthy and even though JJ seemed banged up last week, he will be ready to go. Play clean football, run a stifling defense and have a balanced offense between the pass and run and Michigan will have a game next week in Indy. Play Michigan Football!
OSU 34 Michigan 28
10 comments:
What?34-28?GoBlue 34-21!
Think what you wrote is a healthy assessment. I just see all the drama wearing on these boys and it’s hard to sustain enthusiasm. I hope to be wrong, but think this is one we will have a really hard time winning. I do think/hope it will be within 10pts. Keep it close, play well and maybe we get a 4 seed.
Let's go Blue .... it's not over until the fat lady takes a dump in the parking lot. Goblu Bob's opinion is just that, an educated guess .... what's going to happen will happen, that's why they play the game!
I have this fear that TreVeyon Henderson is going to be the difference in the game. He healthy and gives OSU a two-headed monster in Henderson and Harrison Jr.
Michigan 38. Ohio State 23.... CJ Strauss was prolific passer ... That guy scared me not the guy they have on QB now
Blue for life
We all understand the suspension given Harbaugh from coaching "The Game" was handed-down by Tony Macaroni, so guess who will be at the Big House tomorrow rooting for Ohio.
Also ESPN is bringing in Hutch as a guess speaker, of which Hutch is never one to mince words, and if an opportunity exist I would think he would speak his mind to those asshats on ESPN that were piling it on Michigan.
For The Game, I see the 2 main keys to winning tomorrow are 1) Pressuring & hitting McCord to where bad judgements will be made, and 2) Keeping JJ clean where Michigan's aggressive game plan can operate to the point where Ohio's vaulted defense in the 2nd half becomes disjointed trying to stop our offense. Michigan 34 Ohio 17
The rah rah let's win one for gipper was the Penn State game, The emotions for this game best be high and I agree the bs is getting to them. They need Jim Saturday. This is a game for experience. Sharrone will have to make a couple decisions that have game outcome implications attached to them. If he goes James Franklin on us game over. Harbaugh brings confidence and the players feed off him. Someone on here said these two teams are headed in opposite directions and ours isn't a good one. Hope that's just an anomaly. Looks like a heavy beer and cigar game. Good luck. God's speed. Go Blue!
Bob, you are a traitor for picking OSU.... Let's go blue! Who's your daddy Ohio State?
Blue for life
YAHOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Guess who I saw at the departure gate for Dubai?
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