In one of the hottest rivalries in college football, the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines will host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at home on Saturday at 12 PM EST.
Both teams’ chances of making the college football playoffs hinge on the outcome of this contest. It is always entertaining when these two rivals square off, but the implications attached to this year’s game between the two makes it a must-watch affair.
While the Buckeyes have dominated the matchup as of late and are coming off a gigantic victory over Michigan State, is there a chance of Michigan pulling off the upset?
Today, we are looking at two reasons why the Wolverines can win this ballgame.
Big Win Hangover
Ohio State dominated Michigan State 56-7 last week. It was an affair that saw quarterback C.J. Stroud toss six touchdowns while Master Teague added a touchdown of his own and 95 rushing yards. While this is all good, was it too much?
On one hand, this historic outing could lead to a major boost of momentum for the Buckeyes. On the other hand, it could lead to an underwhelming performance on Saturday.
Ohio State gave all they had in that game and it paid off. But the effort could lead to a lack of energy in this upcoming game against the Wolverines. As long as the Buckeyes maintain the same level of intensity they should be fine, but a big win hangover is something to consider.
Michigan Pass Rush
Ohio State has a fairly balanced attack on offense. However, their greatest asset is the passing ability of C.J. Stroud. This could play into Michigan’s hands as they feature arguably the best pass rush in college football with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo leading the way.
Ojabo leads the team in sacks with 10, while Hutchinson is right behind him with 9. And even when they are not sacking the QB they are constantly pressuring him. One has to figure their tenacity will be turned up all the way in this crucial matchup.
If they are able to break through the Ohio State offensive line and get to Stroud, it could lead to the Buckeyes quarterback throwing passes into traffic and leading to interceptions.
The Michigan offense will need to step up and score points as well. However, If the Wolverines are going to win this game, it starts on the defensive end. They cannot let Stroud and the offense have their way with them like they did against the Spartans.
Final Verdict
Personally, I believe Ohio State will emerge victorious in this matchup. However, I think Michigan will give them a run for their money. We should be in store for an intense and exciting matchup between Ohio State and Michigan this weekend.
Cancel all of your plans for Saturday, as this is a game you will not want to miss.
