Is this really the last regular season game for the Ohio State Buckeyes? Time really flies when you're having fun. And the Buckeyes, for the most part, have been having a ball all year. With the exception of the (fluke) game against Virginia Tech in week 2, the Buckeyes have been sensational all year, especially on offense. When Braxton Miller went down in the summer with a season ending shoulder injury, the job went to freshman J.T. Barrett. Lot's of really good buzz came out of Columbus about Barrett. Many thought he was ready to take the reins of quarterback and lead the Buckeyes to good things. Others thought he was still a raw freshman learning on the job. As it turned out, he was a lot less of the latter and a lot more of the former. While he had growing pains, especially in the first 2 weeks of the year, J.T. Barrett has grown in front of us Buckeyes fans eyes to even be in Heisman Trophy conversations by national media.
So here we are, the final game of the regular season, with probably the greatest rivalry in all of college football, that School Up North. The Michigan Wolverines have had a very difficult 2014. Nothing has gone right for Michigan, both on the field and off of it. Their AD has stepped down, their head coach Brady Hoke has made many questionable decisions on the field. But when it comes to Ohio State/Michigan week, anything can happen. Buckeyes fans know that they will play tough.
Quarterback Devin Gardner has 8 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for the year. Compare that with J.T. Barrett's 33 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions, he's been very pedestrian. Running backs De'Veon Smith and Derick Green have combined for less than 1,000 yards combined. The defense hasn't been that spectacular with no real stand outs this year.
My take: Don't discount Michigan against Ohio State, no matter how bad the Wolverines may be. The Buckeyes are a 20 point favorite but the Wolverines will put up a big fight against the Bucks for pride and bragging rights. But in the end, Devin Gardner is no J.T. Barrett and the 2 sophomore running backs are no match for Ezekiel Elliot. Michigan also wishes they had as talented of receivers as Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas and Devin Smith.
Prediction: in a cat fight, the Buckeyes will prevail at the Horseshoe. It's possible this could be Brady Hoke's last game as Michigan's head coach.
What: THE GAME Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
When: Saturday, 11/29/14, 12 PM EST
TV: ABC
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