Michigan-Ohio State: The Game, v. 104

Ever since Michigan benched both cornerback Johnny Sears and safety Stevie Brown, the secondary has been pretty good. The incredible performance by Wisconsin’s tight end Beckum last week notwithstanding, the secondary has actually played pretty well for most of this season. Junior cornerback Morgan Trent has surprised a lot of people with an All-Big Ten caliber season, and freshman Donovan Warren is set to follow in the long line of great Michigan corners who played significantly as true freshman: Ty Law, Charles Woodson, Marlin Jackson, and Leon Hall. He is a freshman, though, and even Woodson had tough freshman experiences. Safeties Jamar Adams and Brandent Englemon have been reliable, but the tend to get out of position every now and then.

After the first two games, Michigan’s pass rush got progressively better throughout the start of the Big Ten schedule.  Sophomore end Brandon Graham and senior linebacker/rush end Shawn Crable turned into monsters, and Tim Jamison, Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson have each had dominant games. Just last week, junior defensive tackle Terrance Taylor had ten tackles- a ridiculous number for a defensive tackle. The pressure has fallen off the map recently, however, probably due to the fact that Michigan has struggled to stop the run.

Nevertheless, if Michigan can force third and long situations, the Buckeyes will be hard-pressed to move the ball. The Wolverines have been relentless at getting after the quarterback in these situations, and their secondary is good enough to hold their own here.

Advantage: Michigan (I have to pick them sometime!)

Key Matchup: Todd Boeckman vs. the Irresistible Urge to Chuck the Ball Down the
Field at the Wrong Time.

If Boeckman can be patient and take what he is given by the Michigan defense, he should not have many problems. If he gets too greedy too soon, though, he could put Ohio State in an early hole. He needs to be patient and just manage the game.If he does this and Ohio State runs the ball well, it could be a long day for Michigan.

Some predictions that are guaranteed to be wrong...

Things with an asterisk (*) are genuine predictions, everything else is for dramatic effect.

* Final score: Ohio State 24, Michigan 20.   

 
I am so tempted to pick Michigan in this game.

This is what Henne, Hart, and Long came back for: to beat Ohio State.

Lloyd Carr has a chance to beat Ohio State and ride into the sunset on Jake Long and Chad Henne’s shoulders. (No, wait. Never mind about Henne.)

Michigan has so many intangibles on their side in this game. But I just can’t get over the fact that Ohio State looks so much better on paper, especially when Henne and Hart aren't at 100 percent.

So, there you go. Ohio State by four in an exciting game for all.

Enjoy the game, everyone!

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