game predictions

Truly you have a dizzying intellect.

Negged for suckeye tag

I really like our chances.  Good linbacker play has been what truly slowed down the michigan offence this year and they just don't have it.  I love the resurgence in the passing game, and as long as Devin doesn't make any awful mistakes and we kind find a little room to run the ball, I think we score almost at will.

Defensively, I know that everyone is freaking out over what Northwestern was able to do, but both the option teams that really moved the ball on us had speedsters at the tailback position and OSU does not.  They have a very good power back in Carlos Hyde, and if he's anything like Le'Veon Bell, we've proven we can handle a back like him.  I expect Desmond Morgan to have a great day thumping him at the LOS for little to no gain.  Braxton will get his, he always does, and I expect them to score a few, but in the end, I think our defence forces a couple field goals where theirs gives up touchdowns.

Final score: 42-34, good guys.  Eerily reminiscent of last years game.

Of course, if somebody starts turning the ball over left and right or, god forbid, somebody gets hurt than this all goes out the window and I have no clue what'll happen.

M 4

Cornell 2

M 88

KSU 77

M 27

O 26

The lions will lose. There I said it

I will take the ugliest win of all time just to win this game. 11-7, Three field goals and a safety.

But

I really see a 35-29 Meeeechighan victory

Gibbons thinks of a really hot brunette girl and nails a 53 yarder Michigan wins 30-28 and it's gonna warm my cotton pickin maize and blue heart. I can't wait till we ruin Dr. Strange Meyer's day.

24 - 20 Good Guys!

Speaking of predictions I think our glorious leader truly jumped the shark last week with his 24.5 - 0 call for the Iowa game.  I'm guessing he's about to unleash something truly obtuse for Saturday's game like 

Michigan 

Ohio 

I'm sitting here trying to visualize the game on Saturday, and thinking about what things will indicate Michigan is controlling the game versus being controlled.  That leads me to one of my favorite thought-exercises for football -- the one statistic that tells the story.

Note: and I'm not talking about final score.  That's obvious and not the point of this exercise.  I'm taking turnovers off the table as well -- let's assume both teams protect the ball ... maybe 1 turnover each.

My usual go-to stat is 3rd down conversions.  But for this game my hunch is the stat to watch is yards on first down.  My thinking:

• For Gardner (assuming he starts, but if not then Robinson) facing 2nd or 3rd and long is is going to play away from Michigan's strengths.  Gardner can throw the long ball, and OSU's secondary is suspect, but when the down is obvious passing then I think the odds of success drop.  So if Michigan can face mostly 2nd and 3rd and short, things look really bright and Michigan controls / wins the game.  The 3rd down conversion rate will be a function of 1st down yards.
• Michigan's defense has a challenge with OSU's offense as it is.  Giving up 5 or more yards on 1st is going to put a ton of pressure on Michigan's defense because Miller is a slippery dude and can move the chains with his feet.  But back him up into obvious passing and he's not elite (89th in country; team is 103rd in country).

Ohio State's defensive line is fairly good at getting to the QB -- 30th in nation in sacks; Michigan is not quite so good -- 99th in nation in sacks.  But interestingly, Ohio State's offensive line is somewhat porous -- 90th in country in sacks allowed; Michigan better -- 16th in country.

So ... if Michigan's D-Line can penetrate and disrupt/sack Miller, and keep their down-and-distance manageable ... MIchigan controls and wins.  Ditto Michigan's O-Line -- if they can give Gardner decent time he'll tear apart OSU's secondary if OSU stacks to stop the run.  Flip that -- Miller has time and down-and-distance is short, then it's going to be a long day.  Or if OSU's D-Line spends all afternoon harrassing Gardner ... then *sigh*.

sadly I just don't like this game this year. I think Ohio's offense will move the ball with ease and I don't believe our oline will hold up against their front. I'll say final score of Michigan 19- Ohio 34

Analysis;
 

I really think this is going to be the most COMPLEX game in the history of Michigan- Ohio games.

Mostly b/c Michigan's bowl chances are REAL and Ohio's are IMAGINARY

...pain

Anyone have a last minute extra ticket?  My dad and sister got their tickets, and I would like to drive down with them.  

whether we win or lose, i think gardner is going to show on saturday that he is the real deal, and that none of us will have to worry about starting shane next year. if we lose, it will be because braxton miller is braxton miller.

A close game will go to the UM but a rout ... ugh.

Go Blue!

If Brady Hoke, Al Borges and Greg Mattison win this, this would rank as one of the greatest UM victories - dare I say it, it can be mentioned in the same breadth as the 1969 game.

When you dislike someone or disagree with them, it is easy to overlook their attributes and only focus on their shortcomings. This is a good Buckeye team. Beating them would be an accomplishment.

32-17 Michigan. Ohio comes out on fire but once Gardner settles down and the D gets on the attack we control the rest of the game. Then to piss everyone off we go for 2 right at the end.

13-12. Gibbons again! It's going to be cold -- low to mid 30s -- turning this into a classic struggle of the defenses.

For anyone going down, last time we parked at the Crew stadium and took the COTA bus which dropped us off right at the stadium for $5. You miss out on some atmosphere, but it's easy and safe.

In the outside world, something has to be highly rated before it can truly be regarded as "overrated'"—hence the inclusion of the prefix "over." For example, compared to the adulation he gets in some quarters, Tim Tebow can properly be regarded as "overrated." Compared to the rosy pre-season predictions most Detroit fans made, it's clear that the Lions were very "overrated."

But in the incredible MGoBlogosphere somebody can post a comment and 2.3 seconds later the first response will be some genius labeling it "overrated." It's as predictable as this comment being labeled "flamebait," which will occur within 3 seconds of its posting.

DG has another stellar day. Ohio trying to play catch- up all day . Miller is inaccurate and frustrated when forced to throw most of the day.

On offense, they are at a huge disadvantage. Because we may have Devin and Denard in the huddle together, they have no idea who the QB will be and where the other will line up. They will be forced to show how they adjust to two QBs, and it will confuse them and lead to a couple of early scores. With their DL so strong but weak at the second level, Devin is able to dump passes underneath and Denard begins to take handoffs from the Ace which really sells playaction as Ohio almost entirely keys in on Robinson.

I think Miller is more banged up than people think and UM is able to stop them early and force a turnover. Hyde has success but we shut them down inside our 30, and hold them to six points through three quarters. They get a late touchdown on some TE fly route but UM ends up with twice as much TOP and wins 27-13.

any hope that iowa dumps the huskers tomorrow?