The Game projects to be not much of one at all this season.
Ohio State is 10-1, has won nine in a row, replaced a Heisman-contending quarterback with another and is a serious threat to spoil the party that is the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Michigan is 5-6, has no offense, enters Saturday off a loss and coach Brady Hoke's hot seat is in ashes.
Yet, this was the tune similar to last year's encounter, one that Michigan lost by a single point after a failed two-point conversion.
Things look lopsided this year, but try not to take it for granted. The Game has a way of birthing something special no matter what.
Keeping Cool
A favorite that buys into its own hype is dangerous to itself more than anything else.
J.T. Barrett looks great. The freshman has 2,658 yards and 33 touchdowns to 10 interceptions with another 849 yards and nine scores on the ground. His complement in the backfield, Ezekiel Elliott, averages 5.9 yards per carry and has 1,061 yards and eight scores as a result.
Should Urban Meyer's impressive offense jump out to an early lead, Michigan likely cannot keep up. That said, an early lead must come against what is a very underrated Wolverines defense that even held Penn State to 18 points, a team that scored 24 on Ohio State in double overtime.
Meyer is stressing this cool-headed approach in more than one way, though. After last year's game saw fights get some of his players ejected and miss the Big Ten championship, Meyer is taking a zero-tolerance policy toward that same behavior this year.
"He wants the game to be very intense, but if anybody throws any punches this year, we're dismissed," linebacker Curtis Grant said, per Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "You know he pretty much put it out there [Sunday], so there's no telling what will happen if you get into a fight this year. We've got to be on our best behavior."
As trivial as it sounds in comparison, keep in mind that undisciplined football in the heat of a rivalry game breeds unnecessary flags on the field. This impedes an offense in the face of a quality defense or gives Michigan more opportunities to stay in the game.
In more ways than one, the Buckeyes need to take care of business in a calm manner. If not, well, Michigan has nothing to lose.
The X-Factor
Remember Devin Gardner?
Michigan's senior quarterback has taken a nosedive in play this season. A measly 1,663 yards and eight touchdowns to 14 interceptions can attest to that. Another 237 yards and four scores on the ground does not make up the difference, either.
But recall that Gardner is the guy who carried the Wolverines on his back last year. Not only that, he threw for 451 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns in The Game last season.
A jarring note from Nick Baumgardner of MLive Media Group really puts things into perspective:
As unlikely as it is, a return to form for Gardner could propel the Wolverines.
That is obviously a big "if." After all, a touchdown pass by Gardner Saturday would mark the first time he has thrown for a score on the road all season long.
Against a defense that has allowed seven opponents to score 24 or more points this season, anything is possible. Crazier things have happened. Crazier things will happen. Especially in The Game.
When: Saturday, November 29, Noon ET
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Television: ABC
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 52.5
- Spread: Ohio State (-21)
Team Injury Reports
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
One of the sporting world's most prolific rivalries will continue to suffer Saturday.
Make no mistake, Michigan is going to put up a much better fight than most would predict. Gardner might just bust out for his best game of the season and his defense will not simply break time after time.
But by the time four frames have come to pass, Barrett and Co. will have distanced themselves enough to send the Michigan program back to the drawing board in the hopes of a fresh start.
Prediction: Buckeyes 38, Wolverines 28
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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