“You’re a terrorist if you’re not excited about this game,” a friend told me as #2 Michigan vs. #1 Ohio State on November 18th, 2006 approached.
I was in fact excited about the game, in which both teams entered undefeated, I was just mocking the EXTREME HYPE that the media was creating for it. (I know the media over-hyping something?! Who knew, right?!) “The Game,” in Columbus like this year’s meeting will be, was actually extremely exciting and very entertaining. The Buckeyes won it 42-39, the day after Bo Schembechler died.
Now, a decade later, the hype for the next meeting between #2 Ohio State and #3 Michigan football is even MORE HYPED
You can count the hours now until noon on November 26th, 2016 and this match-up, unlike the one ten years ago, will take place in the era of social media instant gratification, and 24/7 news cycle information overload.
ESPN/ABC sent not one, but two press releases on Monday hyping this up, and if you’re really interested in hearing about every single detail regarding how much they’ll be going wall to wall with this (and I’m sure some of you Ohio State and Michigan football fans truly are) go to this link and also this link.
It is overkill.
Or maybe it’s not, depending on your point of view.
SPREAD: Buckeyes -6.5
TV: Saturday, Nov. 26 – #3 Michigan at #2 Ohio State, 12 p.m. (ABC)
Chris Fowler calls the play-by-play alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit and Samantha Ponder and Tom Rinaldi work from the sidelines, with Ponder reporting on the Buckeyes and Rinaldi the Wolverines. They’ll have more than 50 cameras inside Ohio Stadium. Additional production elements include:
Sara Walsh co-hosts SportsCenter on the Road Friday, Nov. 25, (10 a.m. to noon on ESPN) from Columbus.
What’s at Stake:
The result of Michigan at Ohio State has ramifications in both the Big Ten and across the college football landscape as both teams sit atop the Big Ten East division standings, tied with Penn State, and are in the College Football Playoff Top 4 with the Wolverines currently No. 3 and the Buckeyes No. 2.
Michigan clinches the Big Ten East division with a victory, while an Ohio State victory shifts the focus to State College, Pa., where Penn State hosts Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
A Nittany Lions victory following a Buckeyes victory will give Penn State the East division, while a Spartans victory will give the Buckeyes the division. Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams will call the Spartans-Nittany Lions game from Beaver Stadium.
While College Gameday jumped the shark as a program a very long time ago, it might be worth watching it Saturday because they will be there, for what is a de facto playoff game. This is basically the football equivalent of an Elite 8 contest.
I previewed THE GAME while appearing as a guest on CLTV “Sports Feed” with Jarrett Payton (yes, he’s Walter’s son) at WGN Studios. Have a watch below:
Michigan football preview:
After a 41-8 pasting of lowly Illinois, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh sported a pair of glasses that he revealed he must wear now all the time, according to his eye doctor. A reporter asked if it was a nod to Ohio State legend of all legends, Woody Hayes and here’s what he said:
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/789971517249552388
Yes, Harbaugh, the Alexander Hamilton of college football in so many different ways, gave a hat tip to the premier figure on the opposite of college football’s premier rivalry.
Indeed Harbaugh is getting ready for the big game. He also tipped his proverbial hat to Malcolm X and Michael Douglas’ character in “Falling Down.” As we’ve said before, Harbaugh’s quirks and eccentricities are actually not just good for the game of college football, but vitally important.
You could tell last week from how they struggled with Indiana that the Wolverines were looking ahead to this one. That’s fine, as Ohio State was obviously doing the same at Michigan State. Both survived and here we are. The Michigan football program ended their four year slide against Michigan State earlier this season. Now let’s see how they do against the other, and more significant of their two arch-rivals. OSU has won 11 of the last 12 meetings so there’s a lot to prove.
Michigan football player to watch: Jabrill Peppers
The Wolverines have national title bonafides, but Peppers is their star of stars. We could go on and on about him, but we’re trying to keep THE GAME preview from being 1,200 words again this year.
Ohio State Preview:
This was supposed to be a proverbial rebuilding year for the young Bucks as they returned just six starters from last year’s Fiesta Bowl winning side. That’s the fewest in all of FBS, but this year just proves the old adage, Columbus is all about re-loading not rebuilding.
One of their returning veterans was as the most important position- quarterback, and J.T. Barrett now has many of the most vital Buckeye passing records.
That’s really saying something given how many esteemed passers there are in Buckeyes history of high repute.
Ohio State is averaging 43.8 points per game, fifth-best in the FBS. The Buckeyes have totaled 482 points through 11 games this season, the fourth most in school history. THE Ohio State University has allowed an average of just 7.3 points over the past three games. The Buckeyes lead the nation in pass efficiency defense (88.05) and rank second in defensive TDs (6), third in scoring defense (13.0), third in passing yards allowed (159.5), fourth in total defense (279.8), fourth in TO margin (+1.27) and fifth with 17 total interceptions.
Ohio State’s defense has given up just 12 touchdowns this season and has allowed only four rushing touchdowns, both tied for the second fewest in the FBS.
Mike Weber won the league’s freshman of the week award Monday after his 111-yard performance at Michigan State. He became just the third Ohio State freshman (Robert Smith and Maurice Clarett are the other two) to rush for 1,000 yards.
Prediction: Michigan Football 21, Ohio State 21
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.