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5 predictions for Michigan football vs. Ohio State

By Chris Peterson

Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh (right) and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day (left) shake hands before the game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh (right) and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day (left) shake hands before the game at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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This year’s Michigan football and Ohio State game could be the most important ever. Here are five predictions for the Wolverines against the Buckeyes. 

There has never been any love lost between Michigan football and Ohio State. But after everything that has gone on in the past month with the NCAA investigation, the rivalry has reached a whole new level.

People on the Michigan side, as high up as university regents, believe that Ohio State was behind this investigation and the PI firm that gave info to the NCAA.

As a result of that, Jim Harbaugh won’t be coaching on Saturday after the Big Ten gave in Ryan Day, James Franklin, and the rest of the babies in the Big Ten tired of getting their butts kicked.

So Michigan football will defend its Big Ten title without its head coach. We know there is a game next week for the winner of this game, but most agree this is the de-facto Big Ten championship.

Harbaugh can help gameplan during the week and he’s put together some great plans for the Buckeyes over the years, even if defeat, such as 2017.

So I don’t expect Michigan football or Ohio State to be vanilla. The cupboards will be emptied and this should be one of the great games in the history of this rivalry.

Here are five predictions.

The run game will be the deciding factor again

There has been a lot of talk about J.J. McCarthy and Kyle McCord this week, and rightfully so. Those guys are going to have a huge impact on who wins the game.

But for the past 22 years, dating back to Michigan football’s win over Ohio State in 2000, the team that has run for more yards has won ‘The Game.’

When Urban Meyer was on his winning streak, his Ohio State teams could pound the rock. They owned the line of scrimmage against Michigan which is why they won.

The Wolverines reversed that in 2021. It had nothing to do with signs and everything to do with the line of scrimmage.

The team that runs the ball better, will be able to protect the quarterback better, and in my opinion, that trend of rushing yards holds true — the team with more wins on Saturday.

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