It sure seems like we’ve said this on more than one occasion, but Ohio State is most likely about to meet its greatest challenge of 2019. The turnover bug hit a little bit last week against Penn State to keep things close, but the Buckeyes have still beaten every opponent on the schedule by two scores.
Now comes the big one, the annual grudge match against Michigan. And even though Ohio State has rented out the Wolverine program like a cheap timeshare over the last couple of years, Jim Harbaugh seems to have this team playing its best football of the season.
Still, there’s no denying that OSU is the more talented and deep team across the board. Here’s five reasons the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines on Saturday at high Noon.
Next … Athlete on athlete
Ohio State is just more physically gifted
This seems to be the case every week, but it’s one of the reasons Ohio State is a prohibitive favorite in this one and every game so far in 2019. And despite the gap not being as large as many would have you believe, the Buckeyes are still more talented all throughout this roster.
If you simply go up and down every single matchup in this game, Ohio State has it at almost every position. That doesn’t always amount to a win obviously, but when you have to just go out and win the game, sometimes you have to just whip the guy in front of you and make a play.
I take Ohio State in that scenario because this game usually gets to that point with how well-prepared each team will be.
Next … The mind games
Ohio State is in Michigan’s head
I remember the time when the script was flipped, and believe me when I say it mattered that there was a psychological block. You can lose track of how many times Michigan beat a more talented Ohio State team in the 90’s, but when The Game rolled around, the Buckeyes played tight and desperate.
We’ve seen that a little bit too with Michigan. Now, it’s a little different because the Buckeyes have had the better roster more often than not, but I really believe the Wolverines did so much talking the last few years because they were trying to make themselves believe.
It takes a breakthrough to change the culture, but it’s so hard to get that moment to happen when the snowball has been tumbling down hill for so long.
Next … The trenches on offense
The Ohio State offensive line
I’m not sure the Buckeye offensive line gets as much credit as it deserves. Ohio State leads the Big Ten, and is fourth in the country in rushing yards per game. The three it’s behind are the service academies that throw the ball about as often as Jim Harbaugh wears jeans.
Michigan got gashed by Wisconsin up front, and we saw what the Buckeyes did to the Badgers in the trenches and against Penn State — two of the better rush defenses in college football. Now, I know the Wolverines think they have everything figured out there, but Ohio State is going to get some chunk yards on the ground in this one.
And, as we’ve seen time after time in this rivalry, the team that wins the rushing attack usually rings the victory bell.
Next … Justin Fields on the ground
Justin Fields’ ability to move the chains
But not through the air. There will be some of that as well, but we saw Fields become more of a factor on the ground against Penn State because he had to. And I believe we’ll see more of that against Michigan because well — he’ll have to.
Michigan is going to play with a lot of emotion on defense behind the home crowd and two decades of getting pushed around by the arch-rival. It’ll make some plays. However, Fields will be able to make enough key plays on the ground to extend drives and keep the offense humming just enough to pull this one out.
Next … Chase Young
Chase Young is going to dominate
Not one team has stopped Ohio State defensive end Chase Young this year, and that’s with multiple game plans to try and do so. There’s been attempts to run away from him, double and triple teams, and quick passing routes to negate his rush up the field.
None of it has mattered.
You can chip him with a running back or tight end, but he still finds a way to get there. If he doesn’t it opens up the linebackers and other lineman to get home. Either way, he impacts the game more than any player in college football.
Oh, and by the way, this is most likely Young’s last chance to participate in this rivalry, and after sitting out two games hes going to have some bad intentions on Saturday.
If there’s anyone on the field that you had to put money on being a hero in this one, it’s the 6-5, 265 lb. game-wrecker.
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