Ohio State. That Team Up North. It is that time of the year where two of College Football Blue Blood programs will duke it out with what seems like everything being on the line. For Ohio State, a shot to win the conference crown and a potential playoff berth with one last major obstacle in their way–their neighbors to the north. TTUN has the same goals in mind and they can control their destiny, but they must go through Columbus to reach them.
I cannot stress the importance of this game for either side. School and personal pride coupled with the College Football Playoff implications, it is like a high stakes poker game pitting two heavy hitters vying for the entire pot. Ohio State looking for another high stakes signature win against another ranked team. TTUN looking to continue their revenge tour and their rise from a mediocre team to an elite one. They are also desperate to break the Buckeyes current 6-game winning streak and they will try to win in Columbus for the first time in what seems like forever.
Both teams underperformed the week prior. The Buckeyes nearly lost to a high octane Terrapins offense before closing the door in overtime while the Wolverines narrowly beat Indiana. It seemed like both teams were looking ahead to this matchup and both looked sluggish before securing the win.
This game is a beat writers dream with a lot of storylines to cover with one of the biggest matchups will be between both signal-callers, the Quarterbacks. Haskins versus Patterson. Both got the job done last week with Haskins accounting for 6 total touchdowns (3 passing, 3 rushing). Patterson did his job and kept his offense in the game. An interesting dimension to this game is both signal-callers actually talk and are friends and this game will certainly put their friendship aside.
The Running Backs for both sides are another storyline worth keeping an eye on. The Buckeyes have Dobbins and Weber, both of which are studs. Dobbins bared the workload and carried the rock 37 times and McCall had a few snaps here and there. Weber did not play due to a quadriceps injury, but his status is questionable this early in the week. Dobbins has his eye intently on this game and he will look to secure another victory against TTUN. He stated that “He left Texas for The Game”. What adds to the drama, Higdon just guaranteed a win against their arch-rivals this weekend, which could spice up the game and turn the drama up a notch.
The two major keys will be how will the Buckeyes defense responds after their near defeat and will the trench war lose it for the Buckeyes with their inconsistencies and struggles to maintain leverage. For the Wolverines, will Winovich play and can they finally beat the Buckeyes and complete their “revenge tour”?
On a side note, the Buckeyes will host a lot of high school talent that could add to the depth of the team. There are too many great prospects to name, but this will be another opportunity to secure a few commitments prior to the early signing period in December. The home team better be ready to be as loud and obnoxious as possible to rattle the Wolverines and impress the high school prospects. Oh, not to mention that this could be a great chance for the NFL Draft eligible Buckeyes to improve their draft position against a great Wolverine team. Look for some highlight plays and questionable ones too as the game inches closer to the end.
Prediction:
This game will be a doozy. Both teams playing on another level in all phases will keep us all on the edge of our seats. This has all the makings of another instant classic between these bitter rivals that will stress us out. As much as I want it to, I want to blow this team out badly like how the 2014 team dismantled and shut out the Badgers before winning it all, but I know better. It will be a defensive battle that will have an occasional big play, but I wouldn’t mind if I was wrong.
Penalties will occur and this game will not be pretty. The TTUN’s defense will frustrate the Buckeyes O-Line for much of the first half, and the second half adjustments will be invaluable. The TTUN Tight Ends will make some plays and DPJ will do the same because of the Buckeyes tendency to give up huge, momentum-swinging plays.
The Buckeye defense will show up when they need it the most. Haskins will do enough to mix it up with passing and running and the RB’s will share the load. Tate Martell will also make an impact with his package of plays to confuse the opposing defense. All-in-all, I say the Buckeyes extend their streak to 7 games against TTUN.
Final:Â 38-31 Buckeyes.
