One of the best rivalries in sports gets another installment on Saturday college football when the Michigan Wolverines travel to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is scheduled for a noon start time and it will be televised nationally on ABC. Currently the odds for the game have Ohio State favored by three touchdowns to pick up the win.
In this rivalry, seasons are determined based on how each team does against the other. Michigan can salvage their season with an incredible upset in this one, but it's hard to see it happening. In the past, both teams have lost as considerable favorites in certain years, so anything is possible, but Ohio State is far and away better than Michigan.
Urban Meyer has the Buckeyes on the outside looking in to the college football playoff with their No. 6 ranking. Many around the college football world expect this to be Brady Hoke's final game at the helm of the Michigan program, win or loss. Certainly losing in this would would continue to hurt his chances at remaining the Wolverines head coach, especially if they get blown out. A win might allow him to coach in a potential bowl game, but Michigan needs to win the game in order to even have the six wins necessary to qualify for one.
The only thing that has gone well for the Wolverines this season has been the play of their defense. Michigan allows just 20.6 points per game to opponents, which ranks 20th nationally. The offense, however, averages only 20.3 points per game this year which is 115th in the country. That's obviously not good enough and although Michigan does have some solid wins on the season, it looks like they'll miss a bowl game and end the campaign with a 5-7 record. While Michigan might be pompous, having 5-7 seasons just isn't going to cut it.
J.T. Barrett has been awesome for Ohio State this season. The Bucks have averaged better than 44 points per game this season despite Braxton Miller going down with a season-ending injury prior to the start of the year. Barrett has accounted for 42 touchdowns and better than 3,500 yards of total offense. The Buckeyes have weapons all over the field and the defense is very good as well. Ohio State should have no problems moving the football in this one, even against a good Michigan defense as the Wolverines will probably spend quite a bit of time on the defensive side of the ball. Michigan's troubles on offense have been just too much to overcome and it more than likely comes to an end in this one.
Ohio State is just too good on both sides of the football.
Free Pick: Ohio State 41, Michigan 17
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