The Game

Last year Michigan did not have Ryan Glasgow.  INSERT pic here of him pushing two Indiana blockers from the line of scrimmage, ten yards back, into the quarterback.

Michigan vs. Ohio State is all about extending the season.

• Wilton Speight will play.  John O'Korn, Speight, Jabrill Peppers, and even Shane Morris--everyone will be available.  All personnel and all plays are on the table.  As a bonus, mgoblog and the injury reporting are wrong.
• Michigan has not played its best the last two weeks.  The Iowa game was there for the taking.  John O'Korn laid a big egg last week, except if you look closely; errors were minimized while running clock and De'Veon Smith worked.  As evidenced after the game-breaking 30-yard run, he did not give up and now Michigan has two quarterbacks.  The win and the snow--can you say chill?--were just what everyone needed.
• Ohio State is like Michigan, lots of blowout wins but lapses too.  OSU has always been subject to them but this year they too were minimized; regardless, they will be paying attention for the Michigan game.  J.T. Barrett has not looked like a good passer:  occasionally he hits one and his receivers (e.g., Curtis Samuel) or backs (Mike Weber) are so good they win.  Weber looks like the best running back Michigan has seen this year save for Saquan Barkley.  Obviously, J.T. Barrett is a great runner.

This is as good a picture as any.  The laser light show for players entering the stadium or Ezekiel Elliott Block M urinal were tempting too.  The importance of Ohio State football to Ohio is unreal.

Ohio State is to Michigan as Michigan is to Northwestern.  Only Michigan is public, much larger, and has a 110,000-seat stadium.

Overall, this is a good match-up for Michigan.  Jabrill Peppers could be very effective stopping either Barrett or Samuel.  The defensive line anchored by Ryan Glasgow may crack a bit but will not break and, if forced to pass a lot, Barrett will be sacked and he may throw interceptions.

On offense, Michigan will try its quartet of runners and it could be part of a balanced attack.  They must pass to win.  Jim Harbaugh, Tim Drevno, and Jedd Fisch must find a way to complete passes; one or more of the trio of Amara Darboh, Jake Butt, and Jehu Chesson have to have yards or touchdowns.

Also, if the name Peppers is mentioned often--kick/punt return, defensive highlights, or offensive play--that could be a deciding factor.  And, on special teams, Michigan has been very good at blocking punts this season.

Speight or O'Korn?  Harbaugh will work around it.  Peppers, Darboh, Butt, and Chesson are the four names to watch.  They are the barometers for the game.

Ohio State?  They need to run or pass--obviously.  It will be tough.

Finally, intangibles.  It is bigger for Michigan.  Ohio State can (more easily) lose and still go to the playoff.  Michigan has lost in the series a ton lately (worse than the Jim Tressel years).  And Michigan has its best team in at least a decade.  Home field?  Michigan has a veteran team (including quarterback?) and they know full well it will be raucous and one-sided.

Michigan 28-21.

Other predictions:  Landgrant. Pennlive. No Faith 1. No Faith 2.  Some faith.