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