Staff Predictions: Michigan football vs. Ohio State
It all comes down to this — Michigan vs. Ohio State. The winningest program in college football history vs. AN Ohio State University. That team up north vs. south until you smell it, east until you step in it.
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There’s so much at stake here for both programs beyond just a Big Ten East title and probable playoff berth (barring an improbable 8-7, four-safeties-relinquished loss to Iowa in the championship game). OSU head coach Ryan Day has all but said the only reason his team lost the last two years was because of “sign stealing” — forget that his team was emasculated with the same running play over and over again in 2001, or that his own staffers admitted they changed their signs in 2022. He’s backed himself into a corner, and the only way out is to win.
He’ll have advantages, too. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh won’t be on the sidelines. Crazy enough, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti will be in attendance — no confirmation yet if he’ll wear the stupid Buckeye necklace under his scarlet and gray scarf or wait to unveil it if OSU wins. In addition, Michigan’s linebackers will be coached by analyst Rick Minter for the second straight week. While he’s a great coach, not having a guy who coached the position group all year doesn’t help.
So ... we’ll see what happens Saturday, keeping in mind that while this is how many fans on one side measure their own self worth, it’s not life and death. As Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord said this week, “at the end of the day, it’s just a football game.”
Based off his play and body language all year it doesn’t surprise me Kyle McCord said this in an interview.pic.twitter.com/EQ5LUpeaHQ — Truther_Vandross November 22, 2023
Which, of course, probably already has him in the doghouse with the majority of that fan base.
Though everyone correctly picked the correct outcome last week, a Michigan victory at Maryland, there was no winner. Everyone was way off. You’ll all get a chance to redeem yourselves this week, the winner receiving a shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s in Indianapolis next Friday night (see what we did there?). The picks:
CHRIS BALAS: The deck is stacked against this Michigan team, and yet there are a lot of guys who have played in this game the last two years in and know nothing but success. That means something. And don’t be fooled by the last two weeks’ game plans. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will be heavily involved this week, and they’ll have plenty up their sleeves for the Buckeyes. We’ll see how McCord and Co. do in what should be a crazy environment. Michigan 26, Ohio State 20
JOHN BORTON: It’s tough that Michigan won’t have Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines for the biggest game of the season. But you know what’s tougher? Well, the Wolverines for one, in relation to the team desperate for a win. This one won’t be as lopsided, but it will be just as satisfying. Michigan 34, Ohio State 27
CLAYTON SAYFIE: Whatever happens Saturday, it promises to be some of the best three and a half hours in the 153-year history of man’s inhumanity to man. All the blue chips will be out there on Canham’s Carpet ... except Jim Harbaugh. And it’s a damn shame the Big Ten unfairly punished the ninth-year Michigan head coach, providing Ohio State a competitive advantage. It’s massive not to have the general out there.
However, I still like the better quarterback, the home crowd and the mental edge. Ohio State has looked pedestrian at times against competent opponents. If Michigan plays well, it’ll be darn tough to beat. If it doesn’t, it’ll be darn tough to win. Michigan 31, Ohio State 25
ANTHONY BROOME: This is the game you prepare 364 days for. The outcome on the 365th determines more than just a win or a loss. It sets or debunks narratives and has ripple effects in both communities. Michigan is without its head coach Jim Harbaugh, but Saturday is about proving that players win games. Strip everything else away, and it’s a football game that essentially serves as a playoff tilt. This OSU team is built more for a fight than the last few have been, but for the first time in a long time Michigan has the advantage at quarterback, and still arguably in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
We get a legacy game out of Blake Corum on Saturday, who gets his first healthy crack at the Buckeyes. This one will be a fist fight. Michigan 26, Ohio State 17
DOUG SKENE: For all intents and purposes, Michigan has been in playoff mode for weeks. With 3 games to go to get to the National Championship game, Michigan must find a way to play their most complete game against Ohio State. The offensive tackles must have their best gamr to keep JJ clean from start to finish. JJ needs to find his groove again and display the positive body language his huddle needs. Blake Corum must grind and get solid positive yards on first down. This OSU defense is good but not great and points are out there to be had. Field goals won’t be good enough either.
Michigan’s defensive plan is simple, okay like the highly ranked rushing defense they are and punish the QB. As great as Marvin Harrison Jr is, he can be neutralized if his QB is running for his life.
Michigan will find a way to get this done and take another step toward the higher goals they set for each other. Michigan 31, Ohio State 20
