Michigan Football: 3 Reasons Wolverines will beat Ohio State

2. The Buckeyes Have Weaknesses

There’s a narrative going around something like this: “Well, you know the Buckeyes only loss came in Week 2, they’re a different team now!”

That’s true. It did in fact come in Week 2. While it’s also true that they have made legitimate changes to their defensive power structure and play calling, they are still several holes on this Buckeye team.

Ohio State is prone to mental errors — unlike anything we’ve seen in the past.

They currently rank in the bottom half of the nation in the number of defensive penalties committed, and the yards that they’ve gifted their opponent, add up.

Sticking with defense, the Buckeyes additionally rank in the bottom half nationally of red-zone defense. Giving up a total of 21 touchdowns inside the red zone. By contrast, the Wolverine defense has given up 12 touchdowns inside the red zone all year.

While the Buckeyes do have one of the better offensive lines in the conference and nationally, the teams who have (in the case of Oregon) beaten them, or (like Penn State and Nebraska) had them on the ropes there’s a commonality.

When they speed up Stroud’s processing ability and internal clock (when he is trying to get the ball out) they’re in it until the end. It just so happens that Michigan football’s two best players are also lined up at the two most important position battles this game will see.

Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo will get home and will get pressure on Stroud. That’s why attacking and exploiting the Ohio State weaknesses will lead to Michigan winning this game.