For Michigan, this is their bowl game and chance to avoid a second consecutive losing season. Look for an all-out effort from the Wolverines at home Saturday vs. the Buckeyes.
Ohio St. has dominated this series in recent years as it has won five straight meetings, including a 42-7 victory last season. In my opinion this is the worst Ohio St. team since this streak began and there is no way it should be favored by this many points on the road in a major rivalry game.
The Buckeyes clinched a trip to the Rose Bowl with their win over Iowa last week and that is pretty much by default as no team in this conference deserves a trip to any BCS Bowl game. This is one of the worst seasons the Big Ten has had in quite some time and the fact that Iowa was atop the conference just two weeks ago and ranked No. 4 in the nation proves that.
This game is much bigger for Michigan. It needs to win to become bowl eligible which would stop the bleeding of a four-game losing streak as well as a six-game conference losing skid. The seniors will be playing their final home game ever at the Big House knowing that they are 0-3 against the Buckeyes and getting swept at home would be the worst possible scenario.
The Wolverines have been blown out twice on the road during this recent stretch, which also includes a two-point loss against Purdue at home. Three of the six losses this season have been by a combined 10 points this is definitely one of the better six-loss teams in the country.
Senior offensive lineman Mark Ortmann and senior defensive end Brandon Graham were going to make sure the rest of the team understood how big this game was and what it means to the program as the pair held a players-only meeting to get the team on the same page and prepared for Saturday's contest. These types of meetings are sometimes overblown but in a case like this where there are now outside things going on off the field, it is a big step.
Michigan has been woeful on defense in the second half during the losing streak, as evidenced in the latest loss to Wisconsin where the Wolverines were outscored 24-7 in the second half in a 45-24 defeat. In the 38-36 loss against Purdue, Michigan was outscored 28-12 after halftime and the week before that, it was outscored by Illinois 31-0 in the final two quarters after taking a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Last and certainly not least,the Wolverines were shut out by Penn St. 16-0 in the final 30 minutes making it a total deficit of 99-19 in the second half during this losing streak.
To beat Ohio St., Michigan needs to force quarterback Terrelle Pryor into mistakes and that can easily happen. Pryor’s numbers are average at best as he is completing just over 55 percent of his passed while throwing 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
A win here for Michigan avoids back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in 46 years so there is a half of a century’s worth of history to avoid. The Wolverines do fall into a very good situation based on the recent success of Ohio St. Play against road favorites in the second half of the season that are outscoring opponents by 10 or more ppg going up against a team that is between +5 and -5 ppg in scoring differential after allowing seven points or less in the first half in two straight games. This situation is 48-22 ATS (68.6 percent) since 1992.
Even though it is a rivalry game, Michigan had nothing to play for last season and it showed as it limped in to finish 3-9 on the season. The Wolverines have a lot more at stake this season and they will keep this one closer than expected.
Free Pick: Michigan +11½ (-110)