OSU v Michigan

November 22

Overview:

    Looking at the schedule the Wolverines could easily be 9-2 coming into the game if the ball bounces the right way for them.  They could just as easily be 6-5 if the ball bounces the other way.  So many unknowns surround this team as they adapt to a new coach, new system and a new group of leaders.  The Buckeyes have won the last four in a row and will be playing for a chance to appear in a third straight national championship.

By Pete Quint

Preview:

    Michigan returns three starters on offense and one of them is a kicker.  Rebuilding is the word some will use but this offense is practically starting from scratch.  Fortunately the defense returns nine starters including the entire defensive front.  By the time the Buckeyes and the Wolverines meet up in late November, Michigan will collectively have their offensive heads on straight.  They will be firing on all cylinders but the Buckeye defense should still have their number.  The Michigan defense vs. Ohio State offense match-up is most intriguing.  The experienced Michigan defense should be able to match-up well with the high powered Buckeye offense and prove to be a major obstacle in the road to another Ohio State conference championship and national championship.

Outcome:

    Michigan might struggle to get to a bowl game as the entire Big Ten piles on the inexperienced offense.  A fast start is the key to a successful Michigan season. This game will define Rich Rodriguez’s early coaching tenure as a victory will certainly win over the Michigan faithful and a loss will have them questioning themselves as to whether the hire was worth all the trouble and bad press.

    Michigan is clearly overmatched in this one but the intangibles surrounding the game abound.  Here are some of the stats that the national media will obsess over as The Game draws near; No team in the history of the Big Ten has won three consecutive outright conference championships, OSU has never beaten Michigan five straight times and all but one Michigan head coaching change (1929 Harry Kipke) has resulted in a victory for the Wolverines in school history.