Michigan 30, OSU 24.

[Mike]

Wallace had a rough day.

[maxreturn]

VIDEO OSU.jpg

You need to change your alias to "Mr Photo Shop". LOL.

[THE_WIZARD_]

shaddup

[lineygoblue]

He probably would, if he was good at it.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I think the results of this game are nearly impossible to predict given the circumstances it is being played. Keep in mind, this is probably the last season The Game's outcome will be as impactful as this one.

M fans are all doom and gloom at baseline because of the events of the last two weeks. I have it on good authority (not joking) that the withdrawal of the complaint was regent directed. The direction came after Ono received new information from the NCAA on their current investigation of the sign decoding allegations. I'll leave it at that. Good call. Revolves entirely around Chris Partridge. It will come out in time.

More sanctions are likely but those won't come during the current regular and post season play. The winner of The Game will become CFP bound. The loser, if it's M will fall to a NY6 Bowl (Cotton?) if it's osu, they'll have to fight off legitimate claims for a CFP spot from other contenders.

What makes a prediction hard is that we know the match-ups. The keys are can M's D prevent a banner day for McCord throwing to his NFL, first round draft pick receivers. M has an advantage in bringing pressure on McCord to somewhat off-set that if they consistently get penetration. TreVyon Henderson is ascending. M can limit him to their advantage in stopping osu's run game.

On the other side, M's OL is struggling at the OT positions. That could negate the advantage in QB'ing that JJ delivers for M's offense. None of M's receivers are first round type picks. It's going to take impeccable execution to over come the advantage osu has in the receiver room. Corum and Edwards are having less than dominant performances, lots of reasons for that already discussed elsewhere.

Special teams are a wash although any errors in this part of the game could decide who wins.

I'm sticking with a 23-20 type of game but damned if I know who is going to get to that 23.points and hold the other to 20.

Things that could make me look stupid: the game turns out to be a shootout. Can JJ and his receiver room out score osu's and theirs?

[lineygoblue]

The only way Michigan competes in a passing shootout is if Roman Wilson is 100%.

[iam416]

Baby Tua has played 3 very good games against Michigan. I wish him well as he graduates. I'd rather not see him as the opposing QB again.

They shut down CJ Stroud last year. And the year before. So....it doesn't really matter if it's Baby Tua or the Honda McCord -- it's not happening for OSU.

[iam416]

Ohio State is much better offensively with an actual NFL-caliber RB playing. It's the only reason I give them a puncher's chance.

But, in the end, it'll still come to JJ and McCord and that's not going to work out for Ohio State.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Ohio State is much better offensively with an actual NFL-caliber RB playing. It's the only reason I give them a puncher's chance.

But, in the end, it'll still come to JJ and McCord and that's not going to work out for Ohio State.

I think you're as close to right as I can allow you to be. JJ's last two games haven't been great from the eyeball test but the numbers show a decent if not spectacular performance. When he had to, he made some critical big throws and those get ignored when fans only see his interception and two really shitty throws that should have been picks. M just faced two good to great defenses on the road and they took care of business - win and advance.

There's been some questioning of Sherone Moore's play calling v. Maryland and there's hope that he'll not try to LLLLoyd ball M's way to victory. Observers consider what he has to do as HC instead of just OC, he's now having to oversee his old OC job, as well as his DC's job and manage the flow of the game, make time out decisions and challnge calls. It seems to have worked out but, it's not easy and a negative for this game.

Also noted and criticized was the lack of PAs. An over-reaction to OL injuries/dysfunction? Maryland was vulnerable; osu will be vulnerable. Hopefully, we'll see more PAs and less setting 1st and second downs on fire with Al Borges like play calling.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Nice to see you two kids getting along...

NOW GET THE FUCK OFF MY LAWN...AND STFU...

[Jeff Buchanan]

We're both fine. We've been taunting each other for a decade, probably more that I can't remember. He can be a dick that's for sure. But he knows sports and has the legal background to sharpen the logic he uses to present his positions. He's also good at calling out stupid posts. I've got no problem with that except when he does that to mine

[maxreturn]

I think the results of this game are nearly impossible to predict given the circumstances it is being played. Keep in mind, this is probably the last season The Game's outcome will be as impactful as this one.

M fans are all doom and gloom at baseline because of the events of the last two weeks. I have it on good authority (not joking) that the withdrawal of the complaint was regent directed. The direction came after Ono received new information from the NCAA on their current investigation of the sign decoding allegations. I'll leave it at that. Good call. Revolves entirely around Chris Partridge. It will come out in time.

More sanctions are likely but those won't come during the current regular and post season play. The winner of The Game will become CFP bound. The loser, if it's M will fall to a NY6 Bowl (Cotton?) if it's osu, they'll have to fight off legitimate claims for a CFP spot from other contenders.

What makes a prediction hard is that we know the match-ups. The keys are can M's D prevent a banner day for McCord throwing to his NFL, first round draft pick receivers. M has an advantage in bringing pressure on McCord to somewhat off-set that if they consistently get penetration. TreVyon Henderson is ascending. M can limit him to their advantage in stopping osu's run game.

On the other side, M's OL is struggling at the OT positions. That could negate the advantage in QB'ing that JJ delivers for M's offense. None of M's receivers are first round type picks. It's going to take impeccable execution to over come the advantage osu has in the receiver room. Corum and Edwards are having less than dominant performances, lots of reasons for that already discussed elsewhere.

Special teams are a wash although any errors in this part of the game could decide who wins.

I'm sticking with a 23-20 type of game but damned if I know who is going to get to that 23.points and hold the other to 20.

Things that could make me look stupid: the game turns out to be a shootout. Can JJ and his receiver room out score osu's and theirs?

To offset the liability with the Oline you have to get Edwards and the tight ends more involved in the game. Shorter routes, screen passes. It can be done if the OC has enough imagination. As for Harrison, you can't let him beat you. Gotta double him up.

[THE_WIZARD_]

We're both fine. We've been taunting each other for a decade, probably more that I can't remember. He can be a dick that's for sure. But he knows sports and has the legal background to sharpen the logic he uses to present his positions. He's also good at calling out stupid posts. I've got no problem with that except when he does that to mine

fair and unusually reasonable

[lineygoblue]

A little of the back story behind Saturday's QB matchup.

When JJ was being recruited, he took an official visit to Ohio State, and was very impressed. So impressed, that he told Coach Day that he wanted to commit immediately. Day told him to not announce his commitment publicly. JJ obliged, and kept the commitment to himself. In the meanwhile, and unknown to McCarthy, Day was recruiting McCord. Not long after JJ spoke with Day about his commitment, McCord publicly announced his commitment to OSU. JJ felt slighted, and withdrew his verbal commitment to OSU. McCarthy later committed to Michigan.

So there's a bit of history with the three of them, and one can reasonably assume that McCarthy has just a bit of extra incentive when he plays against OSU. Will that show up this weekend?

Would McCarthy be backing up McCord this season at OSU had he went there?

[iam416]

Yeah, I don’t know if they ever had JJ commit CRD definitely had his choice and definitely chose McCord. There was never any idea of taking 2. I think they told McCord that JJ was ready to commit so it was decision time.

With Donovan Edwards, OSU was taking 2 RBs. They had Henderson. It was next guy to commit and Evan Pryor took the spot (he tore up his knee or he’d have played). Anyway, Edwards was all OSU, but wanted to wait. Lost his spot.

McCord would have gone to Penn State.