PING: Michigan fans
 

It's going to hurt even more than normal to lose to OSU this year, eh?

OSU 34
UM 20

Either way, though, the consolation prize is likely the Rose Bowl, so that ain't too shabby.

I predict that several yokels will think they know how the game is going to turn out, then when proven wrong, they will say something to the effect of "at least I made a prediction," like that's some kind of badge of honor.

Mini-Tressels 82
Michigan 3

Is this the prediction for the number of drunken disorderlies issued on gameday?

Michigan 27
Ohio State 23

The game won't be fair because both coaches will do all they can to make sure OSU wins.

OSU 31
Mich 20

If the line holds at 6.5-7, I am definitely putting some money on Ohio St. when I'm in Vegas next weekend.

I don't know about this one.

I don't have a good feeling about it. In Columbus. Tressle. Michigan has been sort of on cruise-control for the past few weeks, not the good kind of cruise-control either. They seem to have peeked early and have been slipping little-by-little each week since the Notre Dame game, though they did show some improvement last weekend against Indiana.

One would hope that Michigan's ability to run the ball and stop the run (typically the two most important aspects of a football game) would give them the edge, but I am not quite sure it does. Troy Smith is exactly the kind of quaterback that's always killed Michigan and I don't think the secondary can handle both Gonzales and Ginn.

Beating Notre Dame as soundly as they did was great, but it was pretty much the same thing Ohio State did to Notre Dame in that bowl game last year.

If the game were in Ann Arbor I would feel a little better about it. I think it will be a close on, but I am not predicting a Michigan win. Then again, I didn't have good feeling about the Notre Dame game either, so hopefully I'm way off.

I am looking forward to this game and hope it is good and Michigan wins. Take that!

Man, I really suck at trash talking.

Michigan 27
Ohio State 10

Wolverines 28
Suckeyes 17

Here is my expert analysis:

I think the team with the most points at the end will be the winner.

That's what they want you to think.

I'm not a big college football fan. I do enjoy watching the big games. So, I will definitely be tuning into this one.

I saw Michigan play Notre Dame and I saw Ohio St play Texas. I think Michigan is in trouble. We'll see.

I find this to be an odd bit of analysis based off just watching those two games.

One of the two times a year you will find me rooting for Michigan. The other time is if they play Notre Dame.


Go Wolverines!

My heart says Michigan.

I'm not listening to my head.

Just comparing the victories for each team, it seems that Ohio State has been much more impressive, both in the quality of wins and the margins. I have a suspicion that Michigan is not as good as their record indicates. But I honestly have not seen enough college football to back that up.

Why all the love for Ohio State's schedule? Ohio State beat one 1-loss team. Michigan beat 2.

EDIT: Forgot that Texas lost. Make it 2-0 Michigan.

Hopefully you guys step up and put some signature bets on the line ;)

Down with the luckeyes

I strongly dislike both of these teams. But rarely does a season ending rivalry game script itself as well as this one has this year. I'm pulling for a Michigan win. They can run the ball. That helps. If this one lives up to the hype, it will be a classic.

Michigan beat ND by exploiting their CBs. They won't be able to do that against OSU.

This is a good point. Michigan beat Notre Dame at home (one loss) and Ohio State beat Texas at home. I would argue that, especially at the time, Notre Dame was likely the better team because they had Quinn and McCoy was only starting in what? His second or third game?

The rest of the schedule is a push for the most part, though Michigan played Wisconsin (likely the 3rd best team in the conference), whereas Ohio State did not.

One thing is for certain, that Ohio State's victories were more impressive. Ohio State dominated the games they were supposed to (except for that Illinois one), where Michigan didn't really blow anyone out. Still, outside of that Ball State game, none of those games were really that close. I was never nervous at any time during those games. Michigan always seemed to have all those games (save Ball State) in control for the most part. I am sure the same goes for Ohio State, but I did not see too many OSU games.

I don't like watching them when they are going to win, so I rarely, if ever, watch them.

The only OSU game that was closer than 17 points was Illinois, a game they led 17-0 for 2+ quarters before relaxing a bit early. Michigan squeaked past Penn State, had a legitimate scare against Ball State, and didn't look all that great against Iowa or Northwestern.

So let's not go overboard proclaiming Michigan as the more impressive team. OSU has barely had a close game all year. If this game is close, Troy Smith and the rest of the offense proved at UM last year that they can come through in the clutch (down 11 with under 10 minutes to play). OSU beat every common opponent by more points than Michigan did.

Screw the Buckeyes.

End transmission.

got a question for you Michigan fans.

Ron English, was the DBs coach here at ASU a few years back now your DC. What is your take on the guy? we love him out here in Tempe and really miss him. Is it a player thing that is making the D so good this year or coaching or a combo? Recruiting, he was a heck of a recrutier out here and looks like he's doing the same with bringing the big names from AZ to Mich. on visits this year, what is you take on his skills there? thanks

That because Lloyd Carr is a classy guy and has respect for his Big 10 brethern and Tressel is a sweater-vest wearing punk bitch with no class who likes to run up the score.

(At least that's what I like to tell myself when I'm alone with my thoughts...)

The people love Ron English. Love him. There has been a lot of talk that he should be Michigan's next head coach when Lloyd Carr steps down. That is how much the people love him. There was even some speculation that Michigan State would try to take a run at him for their head coaching job. I don't think that was ever a realistic possibility, but it terrified Michigan alumns.

English is getting a ton of credit for taking a very suspect defense (see, e.g., Butterman's post above about that 11 point lead with under 10 minutes to go) and turning into one of the best in the country. It's basically the same corps of players as last year with an entirely different attitude and approach.

There are a lot of people out here wanting him as our next HC too. I know he loved it out here so I'm sure if given the chance to be a HC or stay as a DC he'd come out here...you know "sleeping giant" and all ;) everyone wants to be the man who woke us up. It sure would be nice if the move was going to be made to make it before your game so we'd get some free pub out of it :) for recruiting and all.

According to an ESPN poll, only Michigan and Wyoming believe that Michigan will win on Saturday. The majority of every other state thinks OSU will win. The map looks like Regan v. Mondale. It's scary.

God bless you, gentlefolk of Wyoming. God bless you. . .

Wow, I actually pull for Tressel simply because he is a class act.

I pull for Michigan to a certain extent because I like the Big 10.

Of course everyone knows that Michigan is the cesspoll of the earth, but I am digressing a bit there.

Hell, what does it matter, I'm an Illini fan, we win the conference and we STILL don't go to the Rose Bowl...

You are a very, very confused young man.

Perhaps it's a result of being an Illini fan and being beaten so badly lo these many years. It's addled your brain or something. ;)

My girl's got her game face on.

OSU 35
mich 20

Hey, I live in cleveland so this is really the only team I can be cocky about.

Michigan beat two one loss teams that have beaten NO ONE this year.

Wisconsin's best win? well they have zero against ranked teams so maybe a mediocre penn state?

Notre Dame's best win? the same crappy Penn State team? or a squeaker over Georgia Tech that they should have lost?

At least Texas beat Oklahoma (with Adrian Peterson) and Nebraska, both on the road

I'm thinking 31-20 Ohio State. Michigan has 2 decent corners - what are they going to do when OSU goes to their 4 or 5 WR sets? I believe they are going to set up the run with the pass, get ahead early 10-0 and force Carr to go away from Hart and try to win with a hobbled Manningham and butterfingers Breaston (he had a good game against Indiana but, it's Indiana).

You never how a rivalry game like this is going to play out, but I think the matchups favor Ohio State.

Buckeyes 28
Wolverines 17

It could be the '71 OU-Nebraska game all over again....or not.

Personally, I think OSU wins.

Buckeyes 33
Mishitgin 17

Child abuse.

Here's hoping for the NCAA's Death Penalty for both Football Programs, at about... say 3:29pm Eastern Time this Saturday.

If not, OSU 24, Michigan 17. OSU is a little better, and that, to go along with the Home Field, makes the difference.

My bold prediction:

OSU 34
Michigan 13

or some combination of scores between the two

Anyone who's been paying attention to OSU would know that this is the first year that Tressel has come close to running up the score on anyone. He plays the starters for 3 quarters, then the bench the rest of the way.

Remember 2002? When Ohio State won it all and the last 3 games of the year were insanely close? It's a totally different feeling from this year, where they've only played one bad half of football all year (2nd half @ Illinois). OSU is the best team in the country so far, and if they play their best vs Michigan's best it will be a 2 TD victory. But that's not how football goes (see also OSU/Miami title game from '02). I predicted Miami would beat OSU by 2 TD's that day, and I'm gonna say that OSU beats Michigan by 2 TD's on Saturday. Should be a good game.

Being raised in the Cooper era, this is the kind of game that screams "choke!" for Ohio State. But hopefully Tressel's era can continue the 4-1 clip so far. I just can't fathom an OSU coach going to 5-1 versus Michigan. That's another reason I'm nervous about the game. It's like, I think this is only the 2nd OSU/Michigan game of my lifetime that would totally unbearable to lose (first one being obviously 2002).

What the hell, I'll live it up...

OSU 27
Michigan 13

They played poorly in the first half against Cincinnati this year also... they were behind for much of that half.

Do you not remember '93, '95, or '96? All 3 years an undefeated OSU team took their first loss against Michigan.... in '93, it was an embarrassing 28-0. '96 was the slant route game where Shawn Springs slipped, and one single throw did them in 13-9. The 2002 game was partial payback, but this would complete the circle, if OSU can pull off the win.