Michigan Wolverines-Ohio State Buckeyes: A Wolverine Victory Changes Everything

After a red-hot 4-0 start, Michigan's season has gone downhill since the Michigan State game. Since then, Michigan has gone just 1-6. The one win was against Delaware State.

In 2009, the Wolverines are 4-0 in non-conference games. However, within the Big Ten, they have only beaten Indiana and that took a comeback.

Michigan was blown out by Penn State, Illinois, and Purdue. Based on all that, there really seems no way that Michigan can honestly look at this season as a success.

That would be true except for one thing—they end the season today, and as always, they end it against Ohio State. At the start of any season, beating the Buckeyes is of utmost importance and at the top of the priority list. Ohio State has the same priorities.

For Michigan and Ohio State, the records never mean anything because this game is more important than winning the Big Ten, going to the Rose Bowl, and winning a national championship.

Unfortunately for Michigan, Ohio State has won five straight and will be going for six today. After already clinching a Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes are once again the better team on paper. However, the game is not played on paper.

Michigan can win because they have one advantage. It is an emotional one. If they lose, there is no tomorrow for them. The Wolverines need one more win to make a bowl game. Not making a bowl game for the second straight year would be a huge disappointment. Michigan knows that they are out of chances, and this is do or die.

The situation reminds of a quote from the movie The Replacements. Gene Hackman's character told his team of replacement players, "They are not scared of you, but they should be. You have a powerful weapon. There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you all very DANGEROUS PEOPLE!!!"

Michigan can go into this game knowing they are heavy underdogs and just come out swinging. Tate Forcier can approach it with no pressure and just go play his game. That will help with tightness.

Another motivating factor for Michigan is Terrelle Pryor. Two years ago he chose Ohio State over Michigan and Penn State in one of the most publicized recruiting battles ever. Michigan defenders need to make it their mission to make Pryor pay for not becoming a Wolverine.

They need to make him feel the pain, the whole pain, and nothing but the pain. They need to hit him until they can't hit him any more.

This game is simply everything to Michigan. A win and the Wolverines go to a bowl game. It won't be a big bowl, but after going 3-9 any bowl is a positive step.

Not only that, but beating Ohio State will just give the city of Ann Arbor a much more positive feeling about the state of the program.

If Michigan loses, the feeling will be totally different. Another loss to the Buckeyes would just leave a sour taste going into the off-season that will see no bowl game for the second year in a row. It will be two straight losing seasons. The seat for Rich Rodriguez would be scorching hot heading into 2010.

The perception of Michigan will depend totally on this one game. Perception is reality until somebody changes that perception.