Ohio State Preview 2010

OHIO STATE PREVIEW 2010

Michigan travels to Columbus after Thanksgiving, and will play the 107th meeting in the rivalry; however, it is only the 17th meeting after Thanksgiving. Michigan has played Ohio State more often than any other opponent including intrastate rival Michigan State, 107 to 103. Michigan has 27 wins in Columbus with 23 defeats and 4 ties against Ohio State. Michigan enters the game with a 7-4 record while the Buckeyes are ranked #8 nationally with a 10-1 record. Ohio State has won the last six games in a row in the series, 8 of the past 9 games, and are 17 point favorites to win this one. Michigan has not defeated Ohio State in Columbus since 2000, 38-26. For the second year in a row, Ohio State will be wearing unique uniforms fashioned by Nike in honor of their 1942 National Championship team. 24 Ohio State Seniors will be playing in their final home game.

On offense, Junior Quarterback Terrell Pryor is ranked #14 nationally in passing efficency and #25 nationally in total offense; he averages nearly 54 yards rushing per game. As a result, Ohio State's offense averages 446 yards per game leading the Big Ten in time of possession. Junior running back, Daniel "Boom" Herron averages 81 yards pergame and the Buckeye ground game averages 216 yards per game. The Buckeyes have 6 Captains for 2010, and one is backup running back Brandon Saine. Herron wears jersey #1, Pryor has #2, and Saine #3. Herron has 14 rushing TDs, Pryor has 4 and Saine 2 rushing TDs. If Michigan is to have any chance to win or keep this game close, it would be to limit the Buckeye ground attack (Herron and Pryor) under 200 yards and force Ohio State's offense into turnovers. The Ohio State offensive line is big, tough and experienced. They are led by Senior Right Guard and Captain Bryant Browning, Senior Left Guard and former Wolverine starter Justin Boren, Junior Center Mike Brewster, Junior Left Tackle Mike Adams and Junior Right Tackle J.B. Shugarts. When Pryor needs to throw, he has capable receivers in Senior Captain Dane Sanzenbacher, Junior Devier Posey and Sophomore Tight Ends Jake Stoneburner and Grosse Pointe's Reid Fragel. Blocking back is Sophomore Zach Boren. Pryor has thrown for 24 TDs with 10 interceptions. Sanzenbacher leads the receivers with 9 TDs, Posey and Saine have 5 each, Stoneburner has 2. Sanzenbacher is their possession receiver who they generally go to on 3rd down conversions while Posey is their deep threat. Watch for the Buckeye testing the Wolverine defense with screen passes to Herron and/or Saine as our other opponents have done successfully. The Buckeyes are the most dangerous offensively when they are behind as one could see in the Iowa and Penn State games, they play with more determination and effort.

Former Ohio State All-American and NFL All-Pro Linebacker Chris Spielman on the Michigan Defense

Previous 6 Years of Buckeye Offense (Smith and Pryor)=Why Michigan has not won

Year	Total Offense	Passing Yards	TD Throws	Completions	Rushing Yards	Rushing TDs	Red Zones	First Downs	3rd/4th Down Conversions	Time of Possession
2009 2008 2007 2006	318 416 279 503	67 184 50 316	1 3 0 4	9/17 8/16 7/13 29/41	251 232 229 12	1 3 2 0	1 3 2 3	18 13 16 24	4 of 16 6 of 15 7 of 18 6 of 12	32:56:00 30:35:00 37:50:00 29:51:00
2005	418	300	1	27/37	37	1	3	25	6 of 12	31:39:00
2004	448	241	2	13/23	145	1	4	18	8 of 18	34:16:00

Twelve Good Game Matchups

Michigan	Ohio State
Jonas Mouton	Terrell Pryor
Kenny Demens	Daniel "Boom" Herron
James Rogers	Dane Sanzenbacher
Mike Martin	Justin Boren
Courtney Avery	Devier Posey
Denard Robinson	Brian Rolle
Roy Roundtree	Chimdi Checkwa
Darryl Stonum	Devon Torrence
Junior Hemingway	Jermale Hines
Patrick Omameh	John Simon
Taylor Lewan	Cameron Heyward
Stephen Schilling	Ross Homan

On defense, the Buckeyes have their usual tough solid defense! They lead the Big Ten in virtually every defensive category. They are ranked #3 nationally in rushing and total defense, #5 in scoring and pass defense and #7 in pass efficiency defense. They are ranked #2 nationally in forcing opponents into 3 and outs with 5.81 per game. Their tackle leader is Junior MIKE Middle Linebacker Brian Rolle; he is quick and mobile and has already challenged Denard Robinson by saying that not many people can run by him. WILL Inside Linebacker Senior Ross Homan and Senior STAR Free Safety Jermale Hines are the other Buckeye tackling leaders. Junior Andrew Sweat is the SAM Outside Linebacker. The defensive line is anchored by Senior Defensive End and Captain Cameron Heyward. Junior Nathan Williams is the other Defensive End; Junior Solomon Thomas is his backup. Scrappy, quick Sophomore Defensive Tackle Johnny Simon and Senior Dexter Larimore are the Defensive Tackles. Freshman Detroiter Johnathan Hankins is a backup defensive tackle. In the Backfield, Senior Cornerback Chimdi Checkwa is the leader. Senior Devon Torrence is the other cornerback. Sophomore Travis Howard is the 3rd cornerback. Sophomore Orhian Johnson is the Strong Safety. Senior Detroiter Aaron Gant is the Backup Free Safety, but has started 3 of the last 4 games with a 5 back scheme. The Buckeyes are ranked #7 nationally in turnover margin due to a defense that has forced 26 turnovers in 11 games.

On special teams, Devin Barclay is currently the Big Ten's leading scorer; he has hit 16 of 19 field goals and 54 of 54 PATs for 102 points. The Buckeyes are a threat on kickoff returns and are ranked #12 nationally with Freshman Jamaal Berry as their deep threat. Sophomore Jordan Hall is their punt returner and he averages over 10 yards per return (#2 in the Big Ten); he also returns kickoffs. Freshman Drew Basil handles kickoffs, and their punter is Sophomore Ben Buchanan; suprisingly, their net punting is one of the poorest nationally ranked #96. Their kickoff coverage is adequate, but not outstanding.

It has been said that to be the best, one must be able to beat the best. Right now, few could argue that Ohio State is the Big Ten's best in football. They have won or tied for the past 5 Big Ten football titles, and Jim Tressel has now moved ahead of Bo Schembechler in Big Ten winning percentage. He is only behind Fielding Yost while winning 8 of 9 in the series. While we dominated the 1990s and won a National Championship in 1997, the Buckeyes have dominated the last decade with a National Championship in 2002. Ohio State has been ranked #1 in NCAA Football 94 times from 1936 to present, and only two football programs have outdone them: Oklahoma and Notre Dame. Michigan is #11 on that list. Since 2002, The Buckeyes have 97 wins, and only two teams, USC and Boise State have more.

Interesting Trivia: When was the last time Ohio State was not ranked in the Top 25? Answer: 1995

When was the last time Ohio State had a losing season and did not make a bowl game? Answer: 1988

When was the last time Michigan beat Ohio State in football? Answer: 2003 (2000 in Columbus)

Game Prediction:

Michigan 28 Ohio State 38

This is the greatest rivalry in all of sports in the United States. They have played every year since 1918, and the game was moved to the last Saturday of the season in 1935. Even though Michigan holds an advantage with 57 wins in 106 games; since 1918, the advantage is 45 wins and 43 losses with 4 ties. Michigan's record at the Big House is 22-18-3 since 1918. The Buckeyes began calling this series the "Gold Pants" which began in 1934, and hold a 37-35-4 advantage. Ohio State takes pride in their record against Michigan since the Snow Bowl in 1950 when the Woody Hayes era began, it is 31-26-2 since 1951.

Decade	Team	Record	Highlight
2000-2009	Ohio State	8W-2L	2006 #1 vs. #2, 39-42
1990-1999	Michigan	7W-2L-1T
1980-1989	Michigan	6W-4L
1970-1979	Ohio State	5W-4L-1T	10-10 Tie and Rose Bowl Vote in 1973
1960-1969	Ohio State	7W-3L	50 points in 1968, Woody goes for 2 and 1969 Revenge, 24-12
1950-1959	Tied	5W-5L	Snow Bowl 9-3, no first downs
1940-1949	Michigan	6W-2L-2T
1930-1939	Tied	5W-5L
1920-1929	Michigan	6W-4L	1922 Ohio Stadium dedication game ruined, and 1927 Big House dedication game celebrated
1910-1919	Michigan	3W-1L-1T
1900-1909	Michigan	9W-0L-1T
1890-1899	Michigan	1W-0L

Undefeated Seasons Ruined by Arch-Rival	Team	Times
1969, 1973, 1993, 1995, 1996	Ohio State	5
1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 2006	Michigan	5
Undefeated Conference Seasoned Ruined by Arch-Rival	Team	Times
1939, 1964, 1969, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1986, 1993, 1995, 1996	Ohio State	11
1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1982, 1998, 2004, 2006	Michigan	10

Category	Michigan	Ohio State
Legend Coach(es)	Bo Schembechler, Fielding Yost and Fritz Crisler	Woody Hayes and Jim Tressel
Legend Players	Tom Harmon, Charles Woodson and Desmond Howard	Archie Griffin, Hopalong Cassidy and Troy Smith
Current Record	7 wins-4 losses, 3-4 in Big Ten	10 wins-1 losses, 6-1 in the Big Ten
Heisman winners	3	7
All-Americans	150 (126 individuals)	177 (135 individuals)
Bowl Record	19 wins-20 losses, 20 Rose Bowls (8-12)	19 wins-22 losses, 14 Rose Bowls (7-7)
Big Ten Titles	42	34
NCAA Titles	11	7
Series Record	57W-43L-6T	43W-57L-6T
Overall Record	884-306-36	829-309-53
Fight Song	The Victors	Fight the Team
Hate Song	Liquidate Ohio State	Don't give a damn about Michigan
Rally Song	Let's Go Blue	Hang on Sloopy
Other Song	Varsity	Buckeye Battle Cry
Other Song	Hawaiian War Chant	Hey Cheer
Other Song	Yellow&Blue	Carmen Ohio
Mascot	Wolverine	Buckeye (Brutus)
Reward	Satisfaction	Golden Pants