| Breaking down Ohio State vs. MichiganKnown | | | | on the ground, while Henne is your classic |
| simply in Columbus, Ann Arbor, and every place | | | | drop-back passer. If the Wolverines and forced |
| in-between as "The Game", Ohio State and | | | | into second and third- and long, Henne and a |
| Michigan meet in the regular season finale for both | | | | sometimes shaky offensive line will have added |
| teams again. And, as is usually the case, the | | | | pressure on them (literally) and these Ohio State |
| stakes are very high.The Buckeyes can claim no | | | | linebackers led by A.J. Hawk could feast on him all |
| worse than a share of the Big 10 crown, and will | | | | day.Last year with basically the same lineups, |
| be assured of a spot in one of the big BCS game | | | | Smith ran wild for 145 yards and a score and |
| with a win. The Wolverines, who were thought to | | | | threw for two more in the Buckeyes 37-21 win in |
| have been reduced to a pure spoiler role, have | | | | Columbus. Michigan's linebackers and safeties may |
| risen back up into the conference race. The | | | | have to blitz him at times to force quick decisions, |
| turning point of the Wolverines season has to be | | | | which leaves one-on-one coverage against a trio |
| when Chad Henne threw a touchdown pass on | | | | of talented receivers.The Wolverines secondary |
| the last play of the game against Penn State to | | | | has been their defensive strength all year, and |
| knock them from the ranks of the undefeated a | | | | they will be tested here. With Smith becoming a |
| month ago.If that pass falls incomplete, Michigan | | | | better passer, coach Jim Tressel has given him |
| falls to 3-4 and this weeks game, though still their | | | | more opportunities to go down field to Santonio |
| biggest of the year, would be more about pride | | | | Holmes and Ted Ginn.I give Ohio State a small |
| for the Wolverines than aspirations.They not only | | | | advantage overall on offense, as I feel Henne has |
| need to emerge victorious on Saturday, but | | | | improved from his early season woes. He can do |
| would also need in-state rival Michigan State to pull | | | | some damage with his receivers, Jason Avant |
| an improbable upset versus Penn State later on in | | | | and Steve Breaston, but he will need more time |
| the afternoon to snare a share of conference | | | | to throw than I think he'll get on Saturday.But, the |
| honors.Both squads enter this game playing their | | | | bigger advantage to the Buckeyes rest on |
| best football of the season, Ohio State's offense | | | | defense, where they physically beat teams up |
| has put up 40 points in the past four games, | | | | and wear them down n the second half.On special |
| after quarterback Troy Smith struggled early on | | | | teams, both teams boast dangerous return men. |
| directing the offense, only to look nearly flawless | | | | Ginn and Breaston can both change the game in a |
| after his grip on the starting job was slipping | | | | matter of seconds. Both coverage teams will be |
| away. Due to this, everyone around him has | | | | under the gun, and the punters would be best |
| gotten better.Michigan on the other hand, has | | | | advised to kick away from these guys, even out |
| moved the ball better behind sophomore | | | | of bounds if they can without shan king it.The |
| signal-caller Henne, and this maligned defense is | | | | home crowd gives the Wolverines probably their |
| even stopping the opposition with regularity. Wins | | | | lone advantage, but I still do not think that's not |
| over Iowa, Northwestern and Indiana are nice | | | | enough. Notre Dame and Minnesota both came |
| (only the IU win wasn't competitive) , but | | | | out with out Michigan Stadium victorious and the |
| remember, Ohio State DESTROYED those three | | | | Buckeyes are better overall than either of those |
| squads by a combined score of 120-23.THE | | | | teams. History tells us that Michigan has controlled |
| GAMEPLANSBoth teams will want to establish the | | | | this series at The Big House, but Ohio State wins |
| running game, and they have the backs to do it, | | | | this one with a brutal display on D.Ohio State 24 |
| Ohio State's Antonio Pittman and Michigan's | | | | Michigan 13John O'Nan is sports writer/moderator |
| combination of Jason Hart and Kevin Grady. I give | | | | at and contributes to various sports websites.You |
| the Buckeyes the edge, as Smith is also a threat | | | | can reach Mr. |