Anxiety Levels are High Going into The Game for both UM and OSU fans (poll results)
Like most of you, I have been unable to focus on much else besides The Game this week; while perusing various OSU and UM websites, I found two interesting polls (one conducted by each fanbase) to detail anxiety levels for The Game. The scales/questions were not identical, but it's interesting to see responses from both sides of this great rivalry given both polls had large sample sizes.
First, the enemies (http://www.elevenwarriors.com/polls/2016/11/nervousness-for-the-game). Eleven Warriors conducted a poll measuring "Nervousness for The Game" (3,208 respondents)
- 32% of Buckeye fans say they are "Extremely" nervous
- 49% of Buckeye fans describe themselves as "Moderately" nervous
- 13% of Buckeye fans are "A Little" nervous.
- Only 5% of Buckeye fans say they are not nervous.
Maize n Brew's poll had 2,732 responses; the question asked about "Confidence" instead of nerves. You can still vote at the following link: (http://www.maizenbrew.com/2016/11/21/13625024/michigan-wolverines-ohio-state-buckeyes-so-how-confident-do-you-feel-about-the-game)
- 3% of Michigan fans say they are "Very Confident"
- 7% describe themselves as "Confident"
- 45% of Wolverine fans describe themselves as "Optimistic"
- 25% of UM fans are "Definitely Getting Worried"
- 17% of us are "Very Worried"
- 2% of Michigan fans are so hopeless they are having an "Existential Crisis"
Overall, Michigan fans seem more nervous/less confident on the aggregate which makes sense given recent history, home field disadvantage and that we have the most significant injury of either side going into The Game. However, both fan bases are definitely on edge, given over 70% of Buckeye fans are at least moderately nervous.
We are finally back to the way things should be for this great rivalry: tensions and stakes high for both sides.
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
Seeing as OSU doesnt do well with a defense with a pulse, I am confident our D will perform very well.
Thought that last year too though...ahhhh, I hate this.
How about 2 defensive scores Saturday?
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
This is not true. OSU has faced three top 25 S&P defenses so far (3 Wisconsin, 13 PSU and 21 Nebraska), and eclipsed 400 yards on all of them (590 on Nebraska). Push it out to 28 to include Northwestern, and that's 4/4 in amassing more than 400 yards.
The only so called "defenses with a pulse" OSU struggled with were 38 Indiana and 46 MSU. Both of those games occurred in unfavorable and extreme weather conditions. The point being, OSU's offense struggles in wind against anyone because JT doesn't throw well enough in wind to beat the elements and the defense. OSU retreats into running the QB over and over and trying to gut it out with its ground game.
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
I have enlisted Superman to use his super blow power to blow in random directions when OSU has the ball so they cannot throw well. BAM.
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
That would be bad, imo.
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Barrett's rushing ability has been invaluable in big games, especially Indiana, Wiscy and MSU.
MSU last week was no exception.
It's weird to watch. He's big, fast, elusive and slippery all at once.
And Michigan hasn't really faced any QBs quite like him this season.
I'm optimistic that Don Brown will have the team well-prepared for Barrett to keep him pressured and his running under control, and force Weber and Samuel to beat Michigan with their legs and hands. Not much of choice really.
If Speight returns, I like Michigan's chances If he doesn't, well.....oh look, there's turkey leftovers, pumpkin pie and beer in the fridge!
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
I tend to agree with you that Michigan will emphasize stopping the QB run because that's the high success, bread and butter play for OSU. But the idea JT can't beat teams with his arm is wrong. He's beaten plenty of teams with his arm. He's got more yards, TDs, and a higher completion % than Speight. If the weather is fine (and current forecasts suggest it will be), JT is going to be fine.
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
Feels like M will need four long drives that result in points to have a shot at winning.
I mean, OSU wore down the Wisconsin defense in the second half. Michigan has better depth on the line and will hold up longer, but I worry about the fourth quarter in Columbus.
I kind of think it comes down to OSU's defense. I have a harder time getting a sense of where they are, exactly. They held PSU to seven points through three quarters before the football gods laughed and rolled their dice, and Wisconsin only had seven points in the second half. OU put up 24 on them, but again only seven in the second half. So they are good. But how good?
November 22nd, 2016 at 4:18 PM ^
They are good. They have two main weaknesses:
1. They can give up a long run now and again because they play a lot of single high man coverage, so once a back breaks through the line, they're running for a while. The best way I can describe it is they give up Barry Sanders yards. 3, 2, 3, 0, 60, 3, 4, 3.
2. S Dame Webb is not as good as his teammates and can be exploited one-on-one. He's fine, and good enough, but OSU asks a lot of Webb in man coverage from the safety position and he is the weakest link in a secondary with three future first rounders. Webb gets targeted a lot. Carr from Northwestern roasted him. Simply stated, Webb has no chance to win the matchup against Butt in the long run. OSU has done a better job of sliding CB Conley into the slot to combat the weakness of Webb on a WR, but Conley isn't going to cover Butt, so Webb needs to win that battle 40% of the time.
November 22nd, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
Me thinks,
Elite secondary but soft interior. The DT are of the pass-rush variety and probably wont hold up to persistent assault.
They also seem very fast, but can be tricked with misdirection.
Honestly I think whom ever scores the first touchdown will win it.
November 22nd, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^
If we tackle well, very well...then we will win the game. The defense must wrap up on JT and their 2 RBs.
Knocking JT of the game early with a big hit would be huge.
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
I've been really on edge - after what happened two weeks ago (and I'm not talking about the Iowa game) I don't know if I we can handle another loss. A Michigan victory would be very nice
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
Fuck….. You want talk about nervous???.. I am going be at OSU to watch the game with my formal college roommate who is OSU fans.. If the good guys win I am afraid that I will cheer and then get beat up...
November 22nd, 2016 at 2:57 PM ^
I'm not nervous. Our offense has been stagnant for the past two weeks. Our starting QB may not play. Our OL has been mediocre of late. JOK would rather run backwards from pressure instead of throwing it out of bounds. The defense has been suspect at the edges.
We have OSU right where we want them. We'll win by 10 points, minimum.
November 22nd, 2016 at 5:02 PM ^
Call it wishful thinking, but I think the offensive struggles the past two weeks and O'Korn's mediocre performance in his first start as a Wolverine were both caused by Harbaugh holding back. Whether Speight or O'Korn starts, I think every player on the team will play like a man possessed and the coaches will unleash a brilliant gameplan the likes of which we hadn't even imagined, let alone seen.
That said, I'm more nervous about this game than I've ever been about any Michigan game ever.
November 22nd, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 7:34 PM ^
begrudgingly agree with buckeye jonross who was mean to me years back about Denard. No way JH was hiding anything from OSU. That being said, I really think the boys need to play out of their minds on Saturday. I'm hoping they do. They Buckeyes are the worst. the worst.
November 22nd, 2016 at 10:49 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 7:48 PM ^
There are definitely parts of the playbook that are reserved for The Game. History has proven that. I don't think Harbaugh was "just messing around" when he got into trouble against Iowa and Indiana, but I doubt that any of the halftime adjustments he made in either game entailed compromising the gameplan for Ohio State.
November 22nd, 2016 at 8:08 PM ^
I'll buy this. I really do think the team is preparing like crazy. DeVeon's comments would indicate as such ("you better come to practice this week"). We have the experience edge this season. We have great coaching. Outside of the past two weeks we have proven to be an extremely good football team. No part of me thinks we are going to get blown out. Instead, I think chances are much greater for us to take OSU to the woodshed.
November 22nd, 2016 at 8:20 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
Not worried at all...maybe some butterflies at gametime but that's about it.
November 22nd, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2016 at 3:43 PM ^
I see a lot of Buckeye fans who say they "are not even remotely worried" and that this game is a guaranteed win for them. I get the confidence, we haven't beaten you much. But anyone on any side who isn't nervous for this game is a damn fool.
Both teams have had times this year where they've looked unstoppable. And both have had times where they've looked awful. We've got a shot to get out of Columbus with a W, but every man on this team will need to play the game of his life. Peppers will need to get back to being Peppers. The defensive line needs to live up to its billing and make Barrett run for his life all day. Lewis has to shut down one side of the field. And perhaps most importantly, whoever is at QB for us absolutely has to keep the chains moving.
Long, consistent, clock-eating drives that have to result in points and keep OSU's offense off the field.
November 22nd, 2016 at 3:49 PM ^
To last a lifetime this year. Ugh
November 22nd, 2016 at 4:56 PM ^
We MUST win this game. That's all there is to it. We've been losing to these motherfuckers for far too long.
GO BLUE. BEAT OHIO.
November 22nd, 2016 at 5:11 PM ^
I'm a freaking wreck. This game renders me useless for the week; every year since the early 80s.
November 22nd, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
Being in the service, with the holiday I am so thankful it is only a 3 day week because I am damn near useless for this week. Being in the QA department has taken me off the flight line and put me on a desk, and I find myself killing time with scavenging the web for any and all articles "The Game" related. My boss is a die-hard Buckeye fan so our entire day is spent talking smack and debating.
November 22nd, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^
I was a 3rd year law student at Michigan in the fall of 2006, and I got so little done during the week of The Game that year that on Friday, I had to disable the Wi-Fi on my computer just so I could get two uninterrupted hours of studying in (back then, the B1G wrapped up conference play the week before Thanksgiving). When I finally got through it and turned my Wi-Fi back on, I learned that Bo had died :-(
November 22nd, 2016 at 6:57 PM ^
November 22nd, 2016 at 7:59 PM ^
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November 22nd, 2016 at 8:01 PM ^
Definitely a make or break feeling for this game. This is all or nothing.
November 22nd, 2016 at 8:39 PM ^
I'm just over here chewing on xanax.
November 23rd, 2016 at 12:44 AM ^
But they would have been higher if the game was in the "Big House".
November 24th, 2016 at 12:19 AM ^
but anxiously confident. But should be sleeping right now rather than fretting over The Game.
November 24th, 2016 at 9:45 AM ^
Their still being slightly better than us, home field, and the qb situation all make the 10 point spread reasonable.
I think we come out shaky, fall behind by a couple touchdowns or so, settle down to make it a game in the third, but they end up pulling away in the fourth to win by 10 to 14 points, something like that.