CFB: Michigan at Ohio State (12:00 PM ET, ABC)

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2008-11-21

It’s been forever it seems since the fourth Saturday in November wasn’t about the importance of a Michigan-Ohio State conflict, but like your money be safer in your pocket than in a bank, unfortunately it is true. The Wolverines will not be going to a bowl game, and the Buckeyes need help to reach the Rose Bowl. With the pointspread for Saturday’s “Big Game” at Ohio State -20.5, perhaps only bettors will embrace the games usual passion.

Nothing stirs the college football soul of a Midwesterner in late in November like an Ohio State and Michigan matchup. The long history, the true hatred of the two schools for one another arouses the passion of any true college football fan. This year will have an oddly different feel, like nothing in decades. This is Michigan’s bowl game, as they won’t be playing in the post-season for the first time since 1975, having their first eight-loss season in school history (129 years). Most figured the offense to struggle in the early season, but not all year. Coach Rich Rodriquez believes in his offensive system and was hell-bent on implementing it, even with the wrong type of personnel. What was supposed to be the backbone of the team was the defense and they often times looked every bit as confused as the offense, and are ranked 66th in total defense in the country, allowing over 360 yards per game. Besides a faulty record, Michigan is 2-9 ATS this season.

Ohio State still holds out hope of traveling to the Rose Bowl for the first time since get this, the 1996 season. The Buckeyes have made a couple of detours in playing for the national championship, having passed up the chance to visit Pasadena. However, this season that would be a welcome appointment, but they need to defeat Michigan and hope Penn State is upset by Michigan State. Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor continues to show glimpses what his future holds if he is willing to work hard. The Michigan State, Northwestern and Illinois games were impressive performances, since all were on the road. Ohio State is 14-11 ATS as double digit favorite the last four years, including 0-4 in 2008.

It would be fun to report a potential upset is in the making, but coach RichRod is telling people to get a life and he completely misunderstood the enormity of taking the Michigan job. This isn’t West Virginia, where you take a step backwards in order to get ahead, in Ann Arbor you maintain average and then excel. The Wolverines are 0-7 ATS when the total is between 42.5 and 49 this season.

Since Jim Tressel arrived in Columbus, the Buckeyes are 6-1 and 5-2 ATS in the “Big Game” and you can be sure his club won’t take this contest lightly either. A chance to lay the wood to Michigan and put lipstick on a couple of “piggish” losses can be real positive. Keep in mind THE Ohio State University has yet to cover the number at Ohio Stadium this season and the visitor is 6-3 ATS.

StatFox Forecaster – Michigan covers
StatFox Power Line – Ohio State by 27
SF Outplay Factor – Ohio State by 22