2 Ohio State at #3 Michigan
12:00PM Kickoff on FOX (11/18)
Current Records:
Ohio State: 11-0 (7-0 Big Ten)
Michigan: 11-0 (7-0 Big Ten)
Not much else to say about the hype behind this game: 2 vs 3, Wolverines vs Buckeyes, Harbaugh (kinda) vs Day, McCarthy vs McCord, Corum vs Henderson, UM Defense vs Marvin Harrison Junior. Winner of this game gets to face off against punting juggernaut Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game next Saturday in Indianapolis. Ryan Day comes into this game 1-2 against the Wolverines (they did not play in 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic), Day arguably has a lot more to lose in this game then his counterpart (who currently suspended and has been suspended for half the season) which is nuts to think about. If Ohio State wins there will be detractors saying they only won because Harbaugh wasn’t on the sidelines, while if they lose Day falls to 1-3 (losing to an interim head coach), will fail to make the Big Ten title game for a 3rd straight year, and will most likely miss the CFP due to an incredibly stacked group of 1 loss teams waiting in the wings (Oregon, Texas, and Alabama). Jim Harbaugh on the flip side has the whole sign stealing saga to contend with, if Michigan pulls out a win with all the off the field distractions without Harbaugh, they will solidify themselves as the nations top team.
COMPARING THE PLAY MAKERS AND DEFENSES-
QUARTERBACKS-
Ohio State- Kyle McCord
211-318 for 2899 Yds, 22 TD | 4 INT
Michigan- J.J McCarthy
175-237 for 2334 Yds, 18 TD | 4 INT
RUNNINGBACKS-
Ohio State- TreVeyon Henderson
118 CAR for 798 Yrd, 10 TD
Michigan- Blake Corum
180 CAR for 888 Yds, 20 TD
Michigan- Donovan Edwards
95 CAR for 323 Yds, 3 TD
WIDE RECEIVERS-
Ohio State- Marvin Harrison Jr.
62 REC for 1093 Yds, 13 TD
Michigan- Roman Wilson
37 REC for 612 Yds, 10 TD
DEFENSE-
Ohio State-
144.4 Passing Yds per game (0.6 TD)
108.5 Rushing Yds per game (0.3 TD)
Defense averages 0.6 INT and 00.4 FUM per game
Michigan-
144.8 Passing Yds per game (0.5 TD)
90.0 Rushing Yds per game (0.5 TD)
Defense averages 1.3 INT and 0.5 FUM per game
One thing I want to point out stats wise between the players on each team, Michigan rested their starters a lot in the 4th Quarters of games, so McCarthy’s, Corum’s, etc… stats reflect that. That being said both teams are incredibly similar on offense and defense. Michigan averages 38.3 Pts per game on offense, while Ohio State averages 33.6 Pts per game. Rusing attack wise I give the edge to Michigan, they have probably the best 1-2 punch in college football with Corum and Edwards, both of which have been consistently healthy this season. On the other sideline Ohio State’s running back room has been banged up, TreVeyon Henderson missed multiple games due to injury and Miyan Williams is done for the season, look to see Dallan Hayden making an appearance again this weekend. Wide receivers I have to go with Ohio State: Marvin Harrison Jr. is the best play in the country, it is such a shame the Heisman has become a QB award because he should win it. Defensively both of these teams are even, we can even base that off of the teams they played because they had similar opponents:
-Penn State
OSU won 20-12
Michigan won 24-15 (No Harbaugh)
-Maryland
OSU won 37-17
Michigan won 31-24 (No Harbaugh)
-Rutgers
OSU won 35-16
Michigan won 31-7
-Michigan State
OSU won 38-3
Michigan won 49-0
-Indiana
OSU won 23-3
Michigan won 52-7
-Purdue
OSU won 41-7
Michigan won 41-13
-Minnesota
OSU won 37-3
Michigan won 52-10
I am going to go with Michigan in this game. Their offense is just so dynamic with both the passing attack led by McCarthy and on the ground with the 1-2 punch of Corum and Edwards. Michigan’s win over Penn State shows they can ground and pound and win without throwing the ball at all (did not pass once during the second half). Ohio State’s defense has improved a lot since the last time these two titans went at it but now the Wolverines have their full backfield healthy, they have something to play for (respect and to prove doubters wrong), Ohio State has that too but I think all the noise about how Ohio State is “soft” gets to them. I expect things to be close in the first half, like how it’s been the last two meetings but Michigan will pull away and win by at least 10. Something else to note: Michigan is 11-15 going for it on 4th down (73.33%) compared to Ohio State who is 9-17 (52.94%). I expect both teams to go for it on 4th down to try and make a statement and blow the game wide open.
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