The biggest game in Big Ten Football this year takes place on Saturday when the Ohio State Buckeyes head north to take on the Michigan Wolverines. 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 17 points to win.
Ohio State is ranked third in the BCS standings and they could benefit from a beatdown of their rivals in this one. But will they be able to get it? Most national pundits think so. Michigan has had offensive line problems all season and has not looked good in any game in more than a month.
The Wolverines are 7-4 now this season and many people in the Mitten State are wondering if Brady Hoke is the right man to lead the program. The university said this week that he was the man for the job and they'll continue with him, knowing he's a Michigan Man. But if they get blown out by the Buckeyes, at home, the talks will continue to surround the program on just what direction they're going. Remember, Rich Rodriguez was fired after just three seasons as the helm of Michigan. If Hoke and the Wolverines were to lose this game, they'll have finished the regular season with the same Big Ten record of 3-5 that they did the year RichRod was fired.
Ohio State's Urban Meyer has been dominant in Columbus, winning each game he's been on the sidelines for in his almost two years. He may be arrogant, but give the man credit, all he does is win football games. This long, storied rivaly took on some extra meaning in Ohio this week when Meyer slipped up and used the word "Michigan" during a press conference. Whoops. But that's how this goes every year.
Historically, Michigan has risen up from the depths of the mediocre and beaten a highly ranked Ohio State team. But that will certainly be a tough task with these Buckeyes, who are third best in the country at almost 49 points per game. Michigan can score some points as well, but recently Devin Gardner has looked scared in games. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller hasn't looked scared, and that's why the Buckeyes have been dominating everyone they play.
Michigan's defense will probably be the best Ohio State has seen to this point. Plus they're getting 17 points in this game. The Wolverines can't run the ball effectively and Gardner has turned it over just too many times. All things point to Ohio State in this one, but they haven't put away their last two opponents like they would have wanted to.
The Wolverines don't match up well in this one on paper, but it is a rivalry game, so who know what can happen. However, it does look like Ohio State is probably going to win on the field.
Free Pick: Ohio State 31, Michigan 21
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