Winchester Wolverine

November 21st, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^

Every year I fool myself into a false sense of confidence. Sans 2011 and 2016, I've rode on hope, not faith. Michigan is elite this season and is objectively the better football team.

I have faith this year, which is good, but man am I nervous. Not having much to play for takes the nerves away, but when it's for all the marbles... it's a whole other story.

Joined: 01/07/2015

MGoPoints: 19166

Winchester Wolverine

November 21st, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^

Haha, I've toked my fair share of jazz cabbage, however, PTFD is tough to suppress. You can't blame me!

I was there for 2 stops on the Revenge Tour this season, in both the public executions of Wisconsin and Penn State. If that team shows up and doesn't turn the ball over, we win for sure. 

Fuck Ohio, and Go Blue, bro.

Joined: 01/07/2015

MGoPoints: 19166

Squash34

November 22nd, 2018 at 1:42 AM ^

Umm. Literally no fan thought O'Korn was going to beat OSU last year. Not even sure if O'Korn believed he would win it for michigan. 

The year before people did, myself included. However, I did to realize that the big ten would let 3 life long OSU fans to officate the game. If I would have know the refs would get so excited after a few  OSU good plays that they could help but celebrate with the players, I would have rethought my prediction. 

Joined: 09/13/2016

MGoPoints: 3062

Ryno2317

November 21st, 2018 at 10:05 PM ^

I think this game will be pretty high scoring and I expect our defense to give up more than the 24 they gave up to Notre Dame. OSU is the best offense we have seen. We will win only if we understand that we need to score at least 30 to 35. In other words, empty the playbook. This is an even money game.

Joined: 10/14/2013

MGoPoints: 12486

LabattsBleu

November 21st, 2018 at 10:07 PM ^

LOL optimism cause Michigan couldn't finish in the red zone?

They had 7 trips into the red zone - Michigan basically had their way with Indiana between the 20s... While the lack of red zone success was disappointing for Michigan fans, the idea that OSU can be optimistic when Maryland! abused their defense is laughable.

Maryland lost that game more than OSU won it - that's a fact.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

Carcajou

November 21st, 2018 at 10:44 PM ^

Given how important winning the rushing battle in this game is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both teams trying to force the run to the point of being stubborn.


I agree with this, and the fact that Michigan's offensive playcalling tends to be much more conservative on the road has me somewhat concerned.

I also agree with some Ohio State podcasters that Higdon isn't really a breakaway kind of runner so not to expect the long TD runs that we saw from Maryland.

Pound it, grind it out and hope to wear them down and win it in the fourth quarter is probably a dubious strategy against Ohio State.

We can't forget that Ohio State has out-recruited Michigan for at least the last six years, and while Michigan has gelled better than tOSU this year as units, the Buckeyes are still quite capable and dangerous.

I would expect the Buckeyes will play the run on most downs, and make Patterson and Michigan's WRs beat them, which they have the talent to do, but haven't showed enough of this year. They'll be aggressive with our WRs and challenge them. They are not afraid to get into a shootout, so they'll take chances in coverage.  While DPJ and company are much better than before at fighting for the ball, they will need to step it up.

Unfortunately, a big part of this game may hinge on how closely the officials will be calling holding and PI and how closely the players and teams respond to the officiating.

 

Joined: 02/26/2009

MGoPoints: 5794

UM Fan from Sydney

November 22nd, 2018 at 12:07 AM ^

So, I never read these because I could not care less about what some random OSU guy thinks about Michigan. I decided to skim this one for some reason. I laughed after reading where he said something like UM’s defense was so tired that it could not stop JT from getting that first down. The defense did stop him...short of the line of gain, too. It was a great defensive stand, one that won UM the game....until, well, you know.

Joined: 09/17/2015

MGoPoints: 58076

bostonsix

November 22nd, 2018 at 1:27 AM ^

This was long... definitely his longest article of the year and full of justification for buckeye fans. Listen to his podcast and his take is the exact opposite. 

Buckeyes are scared, and should be.

Joined: 01/01/2013

MGoPoints: 13467

I Love Lamp

November 22nd, 2018 at 4:54 AM ^

He does this every year.  Reasonable analysis of Michigan the entire year until The Game rolls around, in which he turns into a bucknut slappy and spews bullshit.

Time to make that mouthbreathing fan base suffer.

Joined: 07/15/2014

MGoPoints: 8306

Wendyk5

November 22nd, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^

The Game always falls into the "All Bets Are Off" category. Think about how well some of Brady Hoke's teams did against Ohio State. Astonishing! They're clearly down this year compared to the recent past but it's still The Game. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67966