Ohio State is flat out the better team in this classic rivalry and Vegas knows it. The oddsmakers are just begging you to take Michigan and all those points, but don't be fooled. Jim Tressel will have his Buckeyes more than ready and in front of all those rowdy fans at the Horseshoe, Ohio State will pull away and win this game by two-to-three touchdowns. You can bank on it!
The difference in this much anticipated game will come down to two people. Well, not really as of course this is a team game and I can't overlook all those Buckeye fans that will jammed-packed in that stadium. But really, it will be Tressel and Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith who will be the difference makers Saturday. Tressel will put his stamp down as one of the game's very elite college coaches while Smith will seal the deal before the nation that he is the best college football player in the country. Saturday will end with Ohio State claiming a spot in the national championship game and Smith the no-doubt-about winner for next month's Heisman Trophy presentation.
Tresell, with four national championships including one in Columbus, is a masterful coach in so many ways. Oh, and he more-or-less owns the Lloyd Carr-coached teams of Michigan at 4-1 SU/ATS. This team has covered 16 of its last 18 lined games. He knows how to get his team up for big games (4-1 SU bowls) and he has had a game plan for this one for weeks. Last week on radio before his team's game against Northwestern (a 54-10 Buckeye rout), Tressel was asked if he'd started game-planning for Michigan yet? Instead of coach-speaking it and saying how they were just focused on the Wildcats, he remarked,
"Well, we have been lucky throughout the year that some of our opponents have played Michigan. It is a coincidence that the film we had for those teams were all against Michigan.''
My point is here is that he will have this oh-so-dominant football team ready in every phase playing on a grand stage at home against the school's biggest rival! Offensively, Michigan is going to have to execute near flawlessly on every snap against a ferocious Ohio State defense that leads the nation in scoring defense (7.8 ppg) and has forced a very impressive 27 turnovers. They have 33 sacks, 83 tackles for losses and Butkus Award finalist James Laurinaitis is one of a host of playmakers. Michigan will struggle against this unit. Quarterback Chad Henne is not mobile enough to move around this defense and we know that Mario Manningham will not be close to 100 percent because of the knee injury. The Wolverines need a healthy Manningham to have a chance in this one and unfortunately for Michigan backers, Super Mario is not up to speed. Mike Hart is a workhorse, but the Bucks have absolutely stuffed him the past two years and they'll do so again Saturday. Last year, Michigan's offense benefitted from great field position to score 19 of its 21points. Two OSU fumbles and a short punt led the 19 points as the Wolves started scoring drives at the 20, 36 and 37 yard line of the Buckeyes. Well, this year's Buckeyes rarely turn the ball over and haven't allowed a single point off a turnover the entire season!
I know that Michigan has a fantastic defense front and this is an outstanding unit. But really, they couldn't get to it Smith last year in Ann Arbor and they won't get to him Saturday afternoon. He's just too good AND has all kinds of weapons to get the football to. How do you stop them? You take away the run and Smith finds Ginn or Gonzalez. Stop the pass and Smith, Pittman and Wells will rip off seven yards a pop. That huge offensive can outplay that Wolverine front, and when they don't, Smith will finds ways to make plays. He is the best college player this year in my opinion. He's completed 66 percent of his passes this year for 200 yards per game. He's tossed 26 scoring passes against just four picks. He beats teams with his head, arms and legs as he is a very dangerous playmaker. Michigan found out that again last year as he rallied the Buckeyes back to victory in Ann Arbor. Two years ago in Ohio State's 37-21 win, Smith was fantastic as in his starting victories over Michigan, Smith has thrown for 541 yards with a 3-0 ratio, while also running for 182 yards and two scores. He can do it all and he will today.
Tressel, Smith and the Buckeyes will be on it from the opening kickoff today as they blowout Michigan in a big game rout!