Where: Ohio Stadium
When: Noon EST
TV: ABC National
The common denominator that has been missing in the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry since Rich Rod took over: UM has lacked the big play, electrifying leader that can keep the Wolverines in any game and score at any time.
This season, Denard Robinson finally gives Michigan just what the doctor ordered and is on pace to be invited to New York for the Heisman Tophy ceremony. On top of that, Michigan is bowl bound for the first time since 2007, has one of the top rushers in college football (he's a QB, not a RB) and has one of the most explosive offenses in America. It sounds like the rivalry is finally back to normal... wait, what, Michigan is 112th in the nation in defense? Oh...well, maybe next season it will be back to normal. It is certain though that the rivalry has a face to hate again in Denard Robinson, and combined with Buckeye Nation's disdain for Rich Rodriguez makes Saturday a very intriguing and anticipated battle in The Game for the first time in three years.
Certainly the challenge will be to stop Denard Robinson - which has been difficult to do all season long - but OSU features the perfect defense to slow down the record-setting rusher so that shouldn't be the monumental task that many pundits view it to be. OSU's nickel/star alignment excels as defending spread type offenses (ala the Rose Bowl against Oregon) so I don't think that Michigan will light up the scoreboard much like they have done all season long en route to a seven win season. Don't believe me about the defense? Then check out a professionals take on this match up by checking out the following link:
http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/2010/11/26/1836596/strength-v-strength-the-michigan-offense-v-the-ohio-state-defense
Heading into this game, I wonder if OSU will try to keep Denard off the field all together by running an offense similar to what we saw against Iowa last week where the game plan was predicated on Pryor moving out of the pocket to make plays and allowing Boom Herron to have success on the ground as well. Regardless of the gameplan I expect plenty of points to be scored against one of the worst defenses I've seen at a major college program since I have been alive/cognizant of college football. Any chance to spit in the wounds of a Michigan program that is just not getting it done across the board with Greg Robinson as their defensive coordinator will gladly be taken up by me, or any other OSU fan really. With that being said, I'm not just saying that this will be a blowout because I like to see Michigan suffer, but rather because all factual signs point to it with the Buckeyes averaging 39 points a game this season (take out the 73 point effort against Eastern Michigan, and they still have averaged 36 points per game). I'm not blowing smoke out of my ass when I say that Michigan is a terrible defensive football team, and it will show tomorrow once the early emotion and adrenaline is taken out of the equation.
Pryor will throw for two touchdowns in this game, along with a nice effort on the ground to overshadow anything that Denard Robinson does tomorrow, as Ohio State wraps up yet another Big Ten championship and, just as satisfying, another big win over the Maize and Blue. Boom Herron will have one of his best games in a Buckeye uniform while the defense keeps the Wolverine offense quiet for most of the game. OSU may not dominate the time of possession factor as much as I would like, but the defense will play well enough to make sure that isn't going to come back and bite the Buckeyes in the butt.
Prediction:
Michigan- 17
Ohio State- 45
I really don't care if it is two to nothing in all honesty. Give me a seventh straight win over Michigan, a sixth consecutive Big Ten championship and a trip to a BCS bowl and I should be good to go.
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