Paul, Paul, Paul, my poor misguided comrade. We share so much: a love of sports, a devotion to Marquette, a passion to write and a soft spot for fruit snacks. It hurts me to see your mind polluted with bad taste and poor reasoning. I think you’ve watched one too many ESPN All-Access packages about how unbeatable that team from Columbus is. Are they a very good team? Absolutely. Are they a great team? Not yet. In order to become that great team, Ohio State needs a victory over the most successful program in the history of college football. In order to win a Big Ten title, it must vanquish a program that has won 42 Big Ten titles.
If the history lesson doesn’t do much for you, then let’s learn how the Michigan Wolverines will be the end of the “unstoppable” Buckeyes.
To beat Michigan, one thing must be done: stop the run. They’ve been doing it well for over 100 years, so it’s no secret. Yes, they have game breaking wide receivers like Steve Breaston and Mario Manningham, but this offense is carried by its running backs. First Team All-Big Ten running back Mike Hart and his five-yards-per-carry will wreak havoc on the Buckeye defense. Wasn’t OSU rolled up by the likes of 5’5” Garret Wolfe for 171 yards? Now, I take nothing away from Wolfe; he’s proven himself as a heck of a runner. But don’t tell me the Buckeye front seven were overmatched by the “powerful” NIU offensive line. C’mon, Paul.
If you want to play the fluke card on this, I’ll take you back to the Texas game. This time a “worthy opponent” put up 172 yards of rushing. And what about the 150-plus the Fighting Paternos put up? Concerned yet? Hart and Kevin Grady provide one of the best one-two punches in the nation. Michigan’s offensive line is arguably the best in the country, with All-Big Ten and All-American candidates at every position. Ohio State’s defense, despite eleven weeks to mesh, is still young and has not seen a group as experienced and as talented as this.
Looking at intangibles, Coach Carr has the karma flowing. Yes, I know his record against “Coach Vest” is nothing to brag about, and Troy Smith has diced Michigan the last two years. But teams that beat Michigan last year have not had the same results this season. Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Minnesota were all beaten by two touchdowns or more (in ND’s case, a lot more). The Buckeyes can yell and scream about how fast Ted Ginn is and how they can run the ball, but they will quickly learn that Michigan has added some speed across their defense as well. Smith will still do his thing, but he will be prevented from taking over the game like he has the last two years.
It’ll be a nail-biter, but the Maize and Blue will put the exclamation point on their season on the foot of Garrett Rivas: Michigan 24 Ohio State 21.
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