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I know that we already have a tOSU/M thread but that is for general tOSU/M hate stuff, this game deserves it's own thread. 

So Ohio State comes in undefeated and a near-double-digit favorite but if that sounds familiar it should because it has happened a few times recently and the results have not been as expected. 

Michigan, of course, has won the last four and hasn't lost since before the pandemic but that comes with two big caveats:

• They didn't lose in 2020 because their dirtbag coach faked a covid outbreak to duck his beating, and
• The wins in 2021, 2022, and 2023 were aided by the same dirtbag coach's cheating scheme (we can debate the extent to which the cheating helped but that it happened and helped is factual and not subject to valid disagreement). 

I think the biggest story here is the status of Ohio State's injured players.  With Smith and Tate the Buckeyes have the best WR corps this side of the NFL but without them Ohio State's WR corps is merely good rather than out-freaking-standing and the other guys are a bit lacking in experience due to playing behind Smith and Tate.  There are also a couple of questions for tOSU defenders. 

My take is that if Smith and Tate are 100% and provided that the tOSU coaching staff coaches to their team's abilities and strengths instead of trying to prove their toughness by playing into Michigan's strengths the whole freaking game like last year, Ohio State should win comfortably and Michigan would need a near-perfect game plus probably some turnover luck to pull off the upset.  OTOH, if Smith and Tate can't go then I think things get dicey fast.  The Ohio State running game is clearly the weakness of the offense.  The last few games it has looked decent but against absolutely terrible opposition so I don't think that says much.  Realistically, the only way Ohio State is going to run effectively on Michigan is if the Wolverines have to be concerned with covering Smith and Tate outside.  If that goes away, Ohio State's running game goes with it. 

Even if Smith and Tate can't go, I *THINK* that Ohio State's defense is good enough to keep them in the game, WR3 and WR4 have a few games experience, and the TE's (mostly Klare) have been phenomenal so I wouldn't automatically assume a Michigan win if Smith and Tate are out but I do think that the evil cheaters would have a better than 50/50 shot. 

What say you?

Well 361 really since they did it w/o hacking cloud servers and advanced scouting. But to your point yes Ohio State should have won but down a center and guard Day admitted to the team after he tried running it down their throat. The only remaining strength M* had was 2 NFL lineman he ignorantly went right at them.

Well 361 really since they did it w/o hacking cloud servers and advanced scouting. But to your point yes Ohio State should have won but down a center and guard Day admitted to the team after he tried running it down their throat. The only remaining strength M* had was 2 NFL lineman he ignorantly went right at them.

we hacking cloud servers now? Brohio, that you? 

putting shit talking aside for a moment- as to the actual game- Michigan is pretty banged up and very young. But the game is at home- which is a big deal- and the weather should be absolutely dogshit nasty which should slow down the Ohio State passing attack a tiny bit. More concerning for the Ohio State passing attack obviously is the health of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. That's the best WR duo in the nation- by far and it's not close- if one or both is limited or can't go- that helps Michigan a great deal- obviously.

THE GAME usually comes down to who can run the ball more effectively and who can stop the run. Probably going to come down to that. Again. Oh, and turnovers, obviously. Taking care of the football on offense is a BIG deal in this one. Michigan can't turn it over 5 times and expect to win like they did vs Purdue. Turn it over 5 times vs Ohio State and they are going to beat you by 30.

I'd feel a lot better in this game if Justice Haynes was available and Jordan Marshall was 100%. Haynes is done for the year and off to the NFL draft unless Michigan pulls off a miracle and beats Ohio State and winds up in the playoff, and Marshall probably isn't going to be 100% but definitely expect him to play.

Right now I'm leaning Ohio State in a close one by 6. Something like 21-15. Michigan is just too banged up, too young on offense, and at some point Ryan Day is going to have to win one of these.

2187 Days Since Ohio State Beat Michigan

Bragging about cheating and the complete lack of contrition is what makes the entire lot of you just complete dirtbags.  

We (all of us) used to talk smack about the dirty SEC but we can't anymore because we have a school in our midst that is dirtier than any SEC school.  

You have one legitimate win in the last 13 years, two in the last 21 years.  Even with the worst cheating scandal in the modern history of CFB and counting those * wins, you still only have five wins in the last 21 years compared to 15 for Ohio State and then your forfeit year when your dirtbag coach faked a COVID outbreak to duck his beating.  

putting shit talking aside for a moment- as to the actual game- Michigan is pretty banged up and very young. But the game is at home- which is a big deal- and the weather should be absolutely dogshit nasty which should slow down the Ohio State passing attack a tiny bit. More concerning for the Ohio State passing attack obviously is the health of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. That's the best WR duo in the nation- by far and it's not close- if one or both is limited or can't go- that helps Michigan a great deal- obviously.

THE GAME usually comes down to who can run the ball more effectively and who can stop the run. Probably going to come down to that. Again. Oh, and turnovers, obviously. Taking care of the football on offense is a BIG deal in this one. Michigan can't turn it over 5 times and expect to win like they did vs Purdue. Turn it over 5 times vs Ohio State and they are going to beat you by 30.

I'd feel a lot better in this game if Justice Haynes was available and Jordan Marshall was 100%. Haynes is done for the year and off to the NFL draft unless Michigan pulls off a miracle and beats Ohio State and winds up in the playoff, and Marshall probably isn't going to be 100% but definitely expect him to play.

Right now I'm leaning Ohio State in a close one by 6. Something like 21-15. Michigan is just too banged up, too young on offense, and at some point Ryan Day is going to have to win one of these.

that’s a pretty good take.  I have no earthly idea who wins this game and that’s usually how it is because this game never goes the way people think it will.
This is interesting because in my view both of these teams are playing the best team they’ve played all year. (No disrespect to Texas because they are playing a lot better now than they were at the beginning of the season)

In conference road games are very hard to win and Michigan has been super tough at home. They’ll be the best running team, Ohio State has played, and the second best team they have played at stopping the run.
and as Jim Tressell says, “the weather can be the great equalizer” in this game. 
Also kind of being ignored is the emergence of marsh and Mculley As legitimate playmaker and downfield threats for Michigan.  If you overplay the run, there’s a lot of risk in it and I don’t think that was true early in the season.
both teams are pretty damn banged up too. I wouldn’t bet 10 bucks either way on this game, but hopefully it will be a good one and fun to watch.