Michigan football vs. Ohio State Game Preview

It’s Michigan Week! This year, “The Game” means a bit more since Ohio State and the Wolverines will be competing for a Big Ten Championship and a possible College Football Playoff.

We want it to be scarlet and grey vs. maize and blue for all the conference marbles. In the 122-year history of the Big Ten, the two teams have won 76 Big Ten championships. While there is still one more step after this game, it simply feels fitting that the division title be decided by this game.

Ohio State’s winning strategy

Ohio State appears to be firing on all cylinders right now. There is plenty of reason to be optimistic after last week’s humiliation of Michigan State. When a defense limits a Heisman Trophy candidate running back to 25 yards rushing, there’s cause to be happy.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Wolverines’ defense will be the best they’ve encountered all year, allowing fewer than 300 yards per game. I’m also confident that Michigan hasn’t encountered an offensive with this much firepower, as Ohio has the nation’s best offense.

Aiden Hutchinson and David Ojabo, both sack experts, will have to be tracked down. Ojabo has ten sacks this season, while Hutchinson has 9.5. The offensive line must keep C.J. Stroud’s jersey clean and allow him time to target his exceptional receivers if Ryan Day expects to continue attacking through the air.

Wolverines News

And against a Michigan team that focuses on the run, Ohio State will need a similar effort. The Wolverines enter the contest as the conference’s No. 2 running team, averaging close to 220 yards per game. Hassan Haskins has rushed for 1,000 yards and is the thunder to Blake Corum’s lightning.

It’s unclear if Corum will participate in Saturday’s game. If he does, however, he’s the type of back who can cause problems for Ohio State. Since November 6, when the team played Indiana, the running back has been sidelined with an injury.

When it comes to the Ohio State attack vs. Michigan defense, it may be a case of irresistible force vs. immovable object.

The Prognosis and the Result

With both teams likely to be in the top five and the Big Ten East on the line, it doesn’t get much bigger than Ohio State vs Michigan Football. If you win, you’ll be in contention for conference and national titles. If you lose, you’ll have to listen to your opponent brag for the next 365 days.

Michigan hasn’t had that luxury in a long time… At the time of writing, it has been 3,648 days. Is this the year Jim Harbaugh finally gets rid of the scarlet and grey monkey from his back? After this weekend, might Michigan be in the driver’s seat for a playoff? There’s always a possibility that Michigan will win this rivalry again, but we don’t think it will be this year.

Whatever you do, don’t miss this thrilling match!