Michigan Football vs Ohio State: Roundtable predictions for ‘The Game’
What is your biggest sense of peace heading into the game against Ohio State (you’re the least worried about?)
Jordan: The defense should be the best it’s been all year. Mike Morris should be back and as a whole, this defense is built to stop Ohio State. I’m confident that the defense will stop the Buckeyes’ run game and force them into obvious passing situations.
Josh: Being the more physical team. The whole narrative of the Buckeyes being soft has sure seemed to come true – why do you struggle with a one-win Northwestern team unless you just aren’t tough? These Wolverines are tougher than a Dollar Tree steak and that will be evident on Saturday.
Nick: I don’t think I can answer that question until I witness it with my own eyes as we all did in Ann Arbor last season, but if I had to say something then it would be that they finally beat them and proved that they are not impossible to defeat.
Cameron: My biggest sense of peace is that we haven’t seen Michigan play their best game yet from top-to-bottom. We also haven’t seen JJ play his best game yet. JJ has said Michigan’s offense is so close to being super efficient and effective and that Michigan just has to translate the practices into game time, and I have confidence in this offense playing well against OSU, so that’s my biggest sense of peace.
Chris: The offensive line is it for me. As long as Donovan Edwards is able to go, I think there will be some openings. I also think the Wolverines will give J.J. McCarthy time to throw. It’s just a matter of him being cool under pressure and the receivers making plays.
Would you consider this matchup to be “Game of the Century Part 2?”
Jordan: I would. 11-0, Big Ten Championship and playoff berth on the line. Either of these teams could realistically win the National Championship. Whoever wins will have a great shot of making it there.
Josh: The first “Game of the Century” came in 2006 when Michigan faced Ohio State both 11-0 and ranked #1 and #2. Since then we’ve seen great top-2 matchups in the regular season whether non-conference or not. Though this game doesn’t have the same title, it doesn’t take away from what the outcome means, nor what the magnitude for the future of both programs.
Nick: Yes.Two of the biggest and best brand names in all of college football. I wouldn’t want it any other way for the maize and blue to go into the shoe and gain sweet revenge that would last an eternity.
Cameron: I don’t particularly remember the 2006 game even though I was alive for it. I can only go back and watch the highlights. Based on modern times, and in the now, yes, I’d consider this to be a Game of the Century. Again, it’s not often that Michigan and OSU play each other as undefeated teams with a conference title game appearance in the line. Combine that with the CFB playoff expansion, and really soon, this rivalry will have less of importance. The sad reality, but true, so this might be the last chance these teams play as undefeated teams before expansion hits.
Chris: It doesn’t feel quite as important to me. The winner of the game was going to the BCS national title game. It’s close but with the way the playoff works, Michigan would still need to probably win two other games to make the national title game, so I’d say that one was more important. Yet, this is still a massive, massive game and a chance to truly change the rivalry.