OK, OK, so this is the biggest game in the history of football. This is Ali-Frazier, Rommel vs. Patton,  Kennedy vs Nixon,  Brooke Shields vs. Tom Cruise all rolled into one.  There are more reporters and camera men in town then there were for the OJ trial. We used to say that yeah, we may think the game is important, but there are a billion Chinese who don’t care.  This year is different, the Chinese not only care, but have come down strongly on the side of the Buckeyes.  The North Koreans on the other hand, while they are hoping for a Weasel victory, have their eyes on Coach Carr as the successor to Kim Jong Il.   The British back the Buckeyes in large numbers, as Tony Blair and JT are tight.  The U of M Alumni Club of Tehran is huge.  The French remain blindly loyal to the University of Chicago, ignoring the fact that the Maroon gave up football 100 years ago. But as Lee Corso says, “Not so fast, my friend”.  This is our game.  This is just plain old Ohio State vs. Michigan. Nothing more, nothing less.  Long-time Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill, once said “All politics is local”.  The same can be said for football rivalries.  All the unusual hype is for the national audience.  All the No. 1 vs. No.2, playing for a trip to Glendale, for a National Championship, the battle of the unbeatens, game of the century,  is for the rest of the world.  In our world, it is Ohio State vs. Michigan…no more, no less.  Nothing can detract from that and nothing can make it more meaningful than it already is. It is what it is and what it is is the most important football game of the year, this year and every year.  It is Ohio State and Michigan and it matters to us, for that reason alone.  The other stuff gets the attention of the rest of the world.  In our world it is business as usual.  The business at hand is that of  beating Michigan and nothing, nothing could make that more important.  Sure the eyes of the sporting world this week  are aimed directly at  Ohio Stadium.  Welcome to Columbus everyone, enjoy your stay.  Please don’t be offended if we don’t give a damn that you are here.  You have caught us at a very busy time.  It’s nice that you are interested, but we really don’t care. Come, watch, enjoy the game, but please stay the hell out of the way because this is personal.  This is Buckeyes and Weasels and our war rages on.

 

          OK, here is how this thing is going down.  OSU offensive line vs. UM defensive front seven.  This is the strength of the Weasels. With their new D-coordinator Ron English they seem to be playing with an aggressiveness not seem lately in maizeandblueland.  Our offensive line will have their hands full.  They will really need the help from the play selection.  We will not be able to simply run the ball down their throats.  We haven’t really done that to anyone this year anyhow.  We may end up with decent rush stats, but only if we get ahead.  The play calling needs to keep us out of obvious passing situations.  We will need to pass to set up the run.  Counters, and reverses may work against a fast flowing Weasel defense.  Throwing to the backs will keep some of the heat off Troy, as will his ability to scramble.  Planned runs by Troy will not work nor will the Power O.  It will be OK at times to punt  and trust our defense. We will get enough big plays to put up at least 24 points.  Troy and the OSU receivers vs. UM secondary.  Troy has a talented and deep group of receivers which can and will find holes in the Weasel defense.  The only hope for the Weasels is to get to Troy and knock him out of the game. Don’t think they won’t be trying.   This is where we win the game.  Teddy occupies Leon Hall and Gonzo, Robiskie, Hall and  Hartline make big plays.

 

Weasel offense vs Silver Bullets. I like the Malcolm Jenkins side of the D, but worry about the Donald Washington, Antonio Smith side.  LB’s will be fine.  Hart will gain some yardage, but they won’t go the length of the field without big plays by Henne.  Crossing routes to Breaston and the TE’s could gain some yards.  I trust the Fickell-Heacock brain trust to win out over Carr and his new offensive coordinator, Mike Debord.  I think we will put Henne in enough tough situations that he will screw up adequately.  We gave up 235 yards to NW in the first half, mostly on passes to backs.  Hopefully, we got enough of that on tape to fix the problem.  The Weasels like the screen the way Darryl Strawbverry likes crack.. All the talk has been about the Weasel defense.  The Buckeye defense has hardly been mentioned this week.  The crowd,  and the lack of respect, will fuel the Buckeye D.  Heacock’s game plan will create some Hennefuison as the Bullets will continue to create turnovers.  After all the talk  about the big bad blue defense., the best defense on Saturday will be the Silver Bullets. Special teams are probably about even.  Their fat little kicker has more experience but Pettrey has the better leg.  Both teams have scary punt returners in Teddy and Breaston.

          I think this game is won on the sidelines.  Lllloyd is desperate for a win.  He has done a great job of getting his team to this point.  His whole crusade, however, will be an abject failure if he doesn’t win this game. He knows if he loses to Tressel he will get to listen to crap all winter. He is truly under the gun and I think he will coach like it and his players will reflect that as well.  Oh, the Weasels will be pumped and play aggressively, but look for the poise of OSU to wear down the urine and blue.  Tress, Troy  and Jim Heacock are at their absolute best in big games and whenever the Bucks have been challenged they have answered with a great performance. They will cement their legacy with this win.  Don’t underestimate the home field advantage.  The 3:30 start will give the fans 3 more hours to get revved up.  Troy Smith is still Troy Smith and he has never lost to UM and he never will.  This one may not be as close as  the rest of the world is expecting. 

24-10 – Buckeyes.   Damn ugly helmets!