Michigan Football will battle Ohio State on Saturday for a berth in the Big Ten championship game and here are five bold predictions for the Wolverines.
By all accounts, the two best teams in the Big Ten are playing this weekend in Columbus when Michigan football will take on Ohio State.
The Wolverines are ranked No. 3. Ohio State is ranked No. 2 and the winner will head to Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game, as well as getting the inside track on a playoff berth.
Ohio State leads the Big Ten in scoring. Michigan football leads the Big Ten in scoring defense. However, the Wolverines are second in scoring defense, while Ohio State ranks 5th in the Big Ten, as well as 10th nationally in scoring defense.
Michigan is second in sacks and third in sacks allowed, while Ohio State is first in fewest sacks allowed, as well as third in sacks. Most stats are like this and that’s why this game is getting built as the “Game of the Century.”
It doesn’t feel as big to me as the 2006 No. 1 vs No. 2 game, but it’s still huge. Ohio State is desperate to even the score after last season, while the Wolverines are desperate to win another Big Ten championship, in addition to ending a 22-year drought in Columbus.
Here are five bold predictions for Michigan football vs Ohio State.
A great gameplan
People don’t like to give Jim Harbaugh the credit he deserves but he’s an elite head coach and he’s going to have a good plan going into this one.
The Wolverines had great game plans in 2016 and 2017. The same can be said about 2019 too, the Wolverines just didn’t have the horses. This time around, they do. The team is banged up but the talent gap isn’t that wide.
J.J. McCarthy has the ability to win this game for Michigan. If he plays up to his potential, the Wolverines are absolutely capable of pulling off a win.
And regardless of who plays or not, Michigan is going to find a way to move the ball and Harbaugh is going to get the most out of this offense.
It doesn’t necessarily mean a win, but Michigan football, even at less than full strength, is going to have some wrinkles and I believe Harbaugh will reinforce why he’s won so many games at U-M.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see some new things that we haven’t seen before. Michigan pulled out some of the stuff at great times a year ago and it would be a nice time to pull out some trick plays again.
Either way, I think we’ll be impressed with the plan from Michigan football and its head coach.
2. J.J. McCarthy shines in The Game
I remember when Michigan football knocked J.T. Barrett out of the game in 2017 and you had hope when Dwayne Haskins came in.
Well, Haskins was pretty spectacular and there wasn’t much drop off which is why the Buckeyes left Ann Arbor with a win that day.
I bring this up because even though McCarthy hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks when his best is needed, I believe he will find a way to deliver.
Michigan needs to let J.J. be J.J. The Wolverines also need to use his legs more. The one advantage Michigan has at QB is that McCarthy is a dangerous threat to run.
Hopefully, he’s able to make the correct reads running and throwing. But this is why he came to Michigan — to beat Ohio State and I think he’s going to make us all proud on Saturday.
I think McCarthy will pass for over 200, run for over 50, and account for at least two touchdowns in a really good performance.
3. The running game will be fine
We don’t know if Blake Corum is going to play or not on Saturday. I’m sure if there’s a way he can play, without risking more injury, he will.
Corum is as tough as anyone on the roster — just look at the run after he came back into the game against Illinois. He didn’t look like himself but still carried defenders forward for about five yards.
Not having Corum at 100 percent is a killer and one of the reasons is that it would allow Michigan football to shorten the game by running the clock and possessing the ball. It’s harder without Corum because he’s so good at moving the chains, especially in short yardage.
I think Donovan Edwards will be out there and probably Corum too, I just don’t know how effective he’ll be. But the offensive line is getting healthier and I still think Michigan will be able to run the ball.
It’s not going to be 300 yards and six rushing touchdowns like Michigan scored a season ago. But I do think the Wolverines will win the battle of rushing yards, which is usually a big indicator of the outcome of this game.
4. Ronnie Bell and the receivers deliver
The wide receivers have been criticized quite a bit but it’s not been without reason. There have been drops and that was on display last week as Andrel Anthony had a sure touchdown go through his hands.
Anthony’s lack of development has been frustrating. It’s hard to believe that he and McCarthy haven’t connected more down the field when it seemed like such a sure thing heading into this season.
However, against Ohio State, I see Michigan going more with its trusted veterans — guys like Ronnie Bell, Roman Wilson, and Cornelius Johnson.
Johnson and Wilson both made huge catches in this game a year ago and the Buckeyes are dealing with some injuries in the secondary. They aren’t 100 percent on the back end and in the biggest game of the season these guys are going to find a way to make plays.
Are they going to be Marvin Harrison Jr.? No. But I think Ronnie Bell is going to have a good day (75 yards or more) and it wouldn’t shock me if McCarthy finally hit a deep ball — to Wilson.
5. Will Johnson and Marvin Harrison battle it out
Marvin Harrison Jr. might be as good as any wide receiver that has come through Columbus in the last 5-10 years and the 6-foot-3 pass catcher is going to be hard to stop.
I don’t know if Will Johnson is going to start the game on him, but I see Johnson finishing the game on Harrison and I think he’ll do a solid job. It will be a battle back and forth.
The 6-foot-3 Johnson could be the best cover guy Michigan football has had since Charles Woodson — that’s not an over-exaggeration — and while Harrison Jr. will make some plays against Johnson, the five-star corner will hold his own and help keep him under 100 yards.
Michigan Football vs Ohio State score prediction
The biggest issue for Michigan football is going to be the pass rush. It hasn’t been as effective as last season and with Mike Morris coming back (hopefully) from injury, he’s probably not going to be as good as he normally is.
Michigan will sack Stroud once or twice, but I think the Buckeyes’ offensive line will hold up better than it did a season ago. I don’t see a shootout but if it turns into a QB battle, I see the Buckeyes winning, but just barely.
Ohio State 27, Michigan 24.