Michigan vs. Ohio State: 12 Foolproof Ways To Beat the Buckeyes

Two schools known for having the greatest rivalry in collegiate sports—Michigan and Ohio State—will meet Saturday for the 108th time before nearly 115,000 fans at famed Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines (9-2, 7-2) hold a commanding 57-44-6 edge in the series, which dates back to 1897.

A victory could earn No.15 Michigan a spot in the Sugar Bowl, while Ohio State (5-5, 3-4) simply goes home, regardless of the outcome.

Afterwards, the Buckeyes will be awaiting the NCAA's verdict from the embarrassing tattoo parlor scandal. Ohio State might also learn if Urban Meyer will replace Luke Fickell as the new head coach.

Ohio State has won the last seven games in the series, but Michigan has been listed as a 7-7.5 favorite to end the streak.

Here are a dozen ways for Michigan to get the job done:

1. Play "Michigan football" by stopping the run, running the football and controlling Ohio's passing game.

2. Unnerve freshman quarterback Braxton Miller by pressuring him with a variety of blitzes. Greg Mattison's defense has been doing it all season, so why stop now?

3. Roll Denard Robinson away from the pocket. It improves his visibility and gives him the pass-throw option. 

4. Adorn each Buckeye locker with two or three pairs of authentic gold pants. Just imagine what they might be worth in Columbus.

5. Play Taylor Lewan on defense occasionally. He's already struck fear into enemy defensive ends; think what he might do to a freshman quarterback.

6. Please, no throwback uniforms. The Buckeyes should know who they're playing.

7. Have Denard line up in the slot and spread the field. Motion him across the formation, then bust a trap play with Fitz Toussaint carrying the ball. Being blindsided by a 300-pound guard can't be fun.

8. Run another fake field goal with Drew Dileo. He's batting 1.000 this season, so the odds are pretty good it'll work.

9. Michigan fans like to rattle their keys during critical plays. With Ohio State, it takes on a whole new meaning. Are there any used car lots near the Big House?

10. "Un-dot" the I.

11. Over the years, there have been many pranks played by the Buckeye faithful in Columbus. A favorite back in the '70s was when the water mysteriously stopped working at 10 p.m. the night before the game.

Since Michigan's student section is always looking for a laugh, maybe they could serenade the Buckeye players with a creative 5 a.m. wake-up call. That said, no one in the student section has ever been awake at 7 a.m., let alone 5.

12. Bring back Michigan's two original mascots—Biff and Bennie—who were were real Wolverines acquired from the Detroit Zoo back in 1927. They would create quite a stir on the Ohio sidelines.