It doesn’t matter what the standings say or what is truly on the line, the rivalry game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes is always one of the best in games to look forward to in the entire nation. These two teams genuinely hate each other to the point that Michigan refers to Ohio State simply as “Ohio,” while the Buckeyes refer to Michigan as “that team up north.”
On Saturday, the Bucks are favored over the team up north by 3 ½ points on the college football odds, and the stakes couldn’t be greater for both teams.
Ohio State still has a shot at a split National Championship, and even though it can’t play in the postseason this year, it most certainly could still be the only undefeated team of the 124 in FBS football. Head Coach Urban Meyer has done an outstanding job with this team this year, and QB Braxton Miller might even be on the verge of the Heisman Trophy if he makes a great last impression in this game. Miller has thrown for 1,850 yards and 14 TDs and has rushed for 1,214 yards and 13 TDs on the campaign.
Of course, Michigan knows that it has a lot to play for as well. If the Nebraska Cornhuskers lose on Friday, this game is for the Big Ten Legends Division title and would send Big Blue to the Big Ten Championship Game. There’s also the outside chance that a 9-3 Michigan team would be in the BCS Top 16, which would make it good enough to select for a BCS bowl berth this year as well. A loss though, and it’s off to the Capital One Bowl or the Outback Bowl in all likelihood.
Michigan beat Ohio State for the first time since 2003 last year in a 40-34 victory at the Big House. However, the Buckeyes have covered five in a row and seven out of eight, including five in a row here at the Horseshoe.
