Michigan opens as a 20 point dog in The Game

They're being extremely kind.

One game this year, this would be the one that I would want to win the most. GO BLUE !

I look forward to the stunning revelation that this was all in fact a sort of rope-a-dope that went on three games too long, that Devin Gardner knows how to play quarterback, that Nuss can call a red zone offense, that Brady is actually wearing a headset implanted in his skull and possesses the wizardry to make points rain from the sky like locusts...

Yet we'll still lose by 20.

what was the spread last year?

 

 

I just don't get why Michigan can't be smarter about Hoke. Florida did a good thing and can start their search. We don't need to pull another scenario like we did with Rich Rod and drag it out.  At least with Rich Rod the teams were getting better, Hoke is getting worse. There's no debate, just tell everyone that Hoke is done after this game, I hope with all my heart that we can pull out an upset of those stupid bastards down South.  I think we can keep it close for a half, but eventually our defense gets tired and our offense makes a mistake. Here's to a future where we are 20 point favorites!

We just lost to Maryland at home on senior day, and OSU is playing for an outside shot at the playoffs, in Columbus.  This will be a blood bath.  I'll give the points.

My prediction: 48-13...non good guys. I may have to start gambling again if the spread stays at 20.

What was the spread in 1969? Or 2008? 

I remember being at the Heisman Pose game and watching all of the OSU fannies leaving the seats at the beginning of the fourth quarter.  I remember wondering how one team could ever become so bad that they threaten the integrity of rivalry.  I actually wished it could be more of a rivalry again.

Now it is Michigan who is "that bad."  It really needs to stop next year.  I don't want to ever see Ohio State even think they can even up Michigan's advantage in all-time wins and losses.   The lead is only 13 games now.  It will probably be only 12 by this time next week.  It is time to make the right hire and give him the support needed to put Michigan back on top.

I'm all in.

I'd pick Blue here on that line.  Hoke's guys will play hard for him.  I think it's close at halftime, and Ohio wins by 10 or 14. 

This will be interesting...

Urban, unlike Tressel, will go out of his way to rub this in...he's going to take this opportunity to really make a statement for the ages. Its a toxic combination of a team geared towards scoring as many points as possible, a coach that is big on style points leading a team that needs those points to have a shot at a NC, playing at home infront of a rabid/nasty fanbase going up against a rival that has fallen way behind, has no identity or go-to performers and is mired in turmoil. 

I'm not sure I can bear to watch...and I've never felt that way....

I want to believe Hoke will empty the playbook, throw everything he can at OSU, and I want to believe his team will fight to the end for its embattled coach. But OSU is fighting to get into the playoff. Meyer will be aiming for style points, so don't be shocked when the final score reads 63-17 OSU.

The defense will keep it respectable for a quarter or so, and then the offense, in its typical style, won't be able to get out of its own way. The penalties and turnovers will pile up, making easy points for OSU. The team won't quit on their coach, but at some point, they'll just have nothing left to give. Cheer up, folks. The Hoke era (hopefully) is almost over.

during the Maryland game when they mentioned Michigan's D is giving up like 2.9 per carry and was highly ranked nationally against the run...that OSU will gash them for like 350 on the ground.  Throw in a long touchdown throw to Devin Smith (and possibly Marshall), along with 6-8 sacks...and it seems more and more like 45-10.  

I AM GROOT

 

and our D is really not that good. i'm looking at an OSU 41 vs Michigan 6 final score.

It'll be somewhat close in the first half. We'll be down 7-10, final will be around a 28 point loss.

with a focus on the upset wins by poor Michigan teams. I then pondered the disparity between the two teams and programs this year.

In the long history of the rivalry, you will not find any upset win by Michigan over OSU when the actual disparity between the teams is as large as it is now. There have been other Michigan teams with losing records that beat OSU, but in each case those Ohio State teams were struggling as well.

Some are going to say "1969," but consider Michigan's overall record and trajectory that season. After losing to MSU in October, Michigan was 3-2, but then Wolverines went on an absolute tear and won their next four games 35-9, 35-7, 57-0, and 51-6. That's where they were when they played Ohio State. To say that we're not playing at that level now is a sad understatement of gigantic proportions.

Others might mention '93, when we were unranked facing a 9-0-1 OSU team that was ranked #5. However, we were 6-4 going into the game and had guys like Ty Law, Derrick Alexander, Tyrone Wheatley, Todd Collins, Mercury Hayes, Jon Runyan, Trezelle Jenkins, Trevor Pryce, and Jarrett Irons on the team.

So Hoke and the team can have this as a goal: if they pull out a win in Columbus, I think it will be the biggest upset win—not in terms of hype, but in terms of actual team quality—in the history of the rivalry.

If you're interested in looking for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan%E2%80%93Ohio_State_football_rival…

I bet it will be something like 58-10; the only thing that will keep it much closer will be Buckeye turnovers. Which isn't encouraging since we're dead last in the conference in causing turnovers, with a grand total of 5 fumbles recovered and 5 interceptions made. Not surprisingly, we're also last in turnover margin at -14.

As the IU game showed, OSU isn't invulnerable defensively, and we've shown occasional signs of being able to run the ball a bit. OSU's got a pretty good DL, and since none of our receivers command double coverage and none of them aside from Butt can catch the goddamn ball with any real reliability anyhow, OSU can crowd the LOS to take away the run and force Devin to throw the ball more than we'd want. That's a recipe for disaster.

I am just hoping our players don't start a bunch of shit before the game in warm-ups. I have seen it happen too many times the last decade against OSU, only to then see our team then get their ass kicked.

Urbz is gonna try to hang a 50-ball on us.

I just guessed to my dad we'd be getting 3 touchdowns... so good job me I guess.

We just lost to Maryland but Indiana just gave OSU a run.  I won't bet, but if I did I'd take the points. Our  slow play calling and boring offense will lull OSU into a 27-9 snorer.

Am I the only one who's noticed how boring we are this year? Even if we were playing elite football it'd be annoying.