2018 Michigan gameday #12: at Ohio State

It all comes down to this:  The Game.  #10 Ohio State hosts #4 Michigan in a matchup of 10-1 teams that have had completely different seasons.  While Michigan has mostly cruised to 10 straight wins (a three-point victory at Northwestern being the closest), unapologetic asshole Urban Meyer's bunch has struggled without a true dual-threat QB, getting curb stomped by Purdue and needing plenty of luck to survive Maryland.

But as been the case very often throughout the series (still 58-49-6 in favor of the Wolverines, despite the last 20 years going the Buckeyes' way) the path to a conference (or division) championship will be decided here in game 12, the best rivalry in all of sports (YMMV).

Despite a feisty Indiana team keeping last week's game largely close, and despite their best effort to prevent Michigan from getting out of the game healthy with a huge dose of cheap shots and dirty play the Wolverines won't soon forget, Jim Harbaugh's group got it done.  Now they have one last stop on the Revenge Tour, a concept that proves this team has the attitude to go all the way.

A great coach, dominant defense, and an offense that's been clicking thanks to a true dual-threat quarterback in Shea Patterson all have Michigan poised to do something they haven't achieved since 2000:  beat the Buckeyes in Columbus.  Meanwhile, OSU's offense has been mostly one-dimensional this year, they've struggled against lesser teams, and Meyer's "health" has been in question.  It's there for the taking, and if things go right it won't even come down to a bad spot or the wrong play on a game-deciding two-point conversion.

Complete the Revenge Tour.  Book a trip to Indy.  Beat Ohio.

LET'S GO BLUE

2017 Michigan gameday #12: vs. Ohio State

It's game #12 for Michigan and that means it's time for one of the most anticipated matchups in all of sports:  the Buckeyes against the Wolverines in the 113th edition of The Game.

It's a rivalry that's seen plenty of highs and lows for the Maize and Blue, and lately it's been the latter with OSU on a five-game winning streak as they've been victorious for 14 of the 16 games since 2001.

A young and likely overmatched 2017 Michigan squad (8-3) doesn't seem likely to buck that trend against an Ohio State team (9-2) that's largely dominated its competition this season besides losses to Oklahoma and Iowa(!!!) and a nail-biter over Penn State.  Young QB Brandon Peters' health is on the minds of everyone cheering from Ann Arbor and beyond as Jim Harbaugh's team aims for an upset and something positive to take from this somewhat trying season.

The Wolverines were inches from a huge win last year, and while I don't know that it'll be quite that close in the waning minutes of this one, I do know that they have an ace up their sleeve:  TMM co-author and My Sports Obsession writer Jeff will be in attendance.  Could this be the factor that puts Michigan over the top?  Tune in at noon EST, just as Bo would have demanded.

Let's.

Go.

Blue.

2016 Michigan gameday #12: at Ohio State

It's been 10 years since the stakes were this high for both teams as #3 Michigan heads to Columbus to face #2 Ohio State in a matchup of 10-1 teams hoping to head to the Big Ten Championship game and College Football Playoff.

Michigan's path is clear:  win and you're in; the Buckeyes, thanks to their loss to Penn State, need a victory plus a Nittany Lions upset loss to *snort* Michigan State.

It's been far too long since the Wolverines were in control of this rivalry:  Michigan hasn't won since 2011 and hasn't won consecutive games since 1999-2000, with the latter representing the Wolverines' most recent victory in Columbus.

Jim Harbaugh's squad is staring down a hostile crowd, a touchdown spread, and questions on both sides of the ball--especially the health of QB Wilton Speight--in this monumental edition of The Game.  It's time to see if Harbaugh's team is ready to get over the OSU hump and on to glory.

Beat Ohio.

Do it for Bo.

LET'S GO BLUE!

2015 Michigan gameday #12: vs. Ohio State

(From The M Zone)

Before the season started, if you would have told me that Michigan would be headed into The Game with a 9-2 record I wouldn't have believed you.  Despite the optimism that Jim Harbaugh brought, it felt like it would be asking too much to hope for a turnaround of this magnitude after years of losing and wasted talent.

And yet, not only are the Wolverines sitting pretty with a sparkling record, but they even have an outside shot at making it to the Big Ten Championship Game.  Sure, it would take a win over an extremely difficult Ohio State squad plus a Michigan State loss to not-as-good-as-their-record-implies Penn State, but who even thought Michigan would have this chance, either before the season started, after the week one loss to Utah, or especially after the crushing last-second Michigan State loss?

So Michigan's playing with house money, but with a greater purpose than they could have imagined back in September, and with a never quite attitude that comes straight from the man at the top.  Can the Wolverines deliver Ohio State's second consecutive loss after their lackluster performance against the Spartans last week?  This promises to be a great game that lives up to the reputation of the best rivalry in college football, and win or lose, I love that Michigan is already here.

LET'S GO BLUE!