The Game 2007: Ohio State vs Michigan

[buckeye2]

The Game 2007

 vs. 

Ohio State vs. Michigan

Date: November 17th
Location: Ann Arbor
Time: 12:00 pm
TV: ABC
Listen: 97.1FM (Columbus)

Once Again, Ohio State and Michigan Meet for Title
Football
No. 7-ranked Ohio State (10-1/6-1 in the Big Ten) visits No. 23 Michigan (8-3/6-1) for a noon game Saturday at Michigan Stadium (107,501).

What do you think will be the outcome? Stars of the game? Who to watch out for? 

Edit:  I edited this post to make it the official game post for "The Game".  I changed the title and added our game info.   Nate

[GoMichigan(NoGood)]

27-24, Michigan. I have to be a homer.

[mjp28]

I finally found a few lines on OSU/MICH

11/17 12:00 PM 
369 Ohio State   -3.0 46  -4.0-110 -3.5-110
370 Michigan   
****TIME CHANGE****WAS ORIG. 3:30PM.....that changed!! ABC

MICH-QB-Henne-Questionable (but exp. to play)
MICH-RB-Hart-Probable

What all of that means is OHIO STATE is a 3 or 3.5 or 4 point favorite, about 46 total points.

I'll go BUCKEYES 34 "m" 21, big BUCKS win!
   

[AutoModGod]

I think it will start with our defense.  We need to play better than they have the last couple of games.  We need to keep people off of Laurenitis.  Our defensive line needs to occupy blockers and keep our LBs free.  Starting with the PSU game, it seems that offenses have been getting to Laurenitis and that has hurt our run defense tremendously.

I look for us to lock Jenkins up on Manningham.  Jenkins has been playing a lot at safety, but I don't think that will be the case this week.

Obviously, we need to stop the run - regardless of who UM has in the backfield they will want to run the ball and they will want to run the ball left - behind Jake Long.  That is who they are.  They will throw a couple of screens at us and we need to be ready for those plays.  They would be foolish if they did not test us deep.  If they can get their running game going it will put a lot of pressure on our DBs.

Offensively, if Beanie is healthy he ought to be able to match what Culcrick and others have done to the UM defense - run, run, run.  If Beanie is not healthy, then Boeckman will have to beat UM.  Frankly, I think he can do it.  He judiciously picked some spots against Illinois to take off and run.  He needs to do that more often, I think.  If UM is not prepared for that, they are fools.  Remember TS's sophomore year?  He had about 80 yards rushing coming into The Game and he ate UM alive.  Todd is no Troy, but he proved he can run with the ball if necessary.  That is the Achilles heal of UMs D and if they think that TS is the only OSU QB that can beat them running the ball, I think they will learn something on Saturday.

I look for Ballard and Nicol to contribute significantly.  I don't think that UM will have anyone to match up with our TEs - particularly Ballard.  That guy is great blocker and has hands of glue.

It would be nice to get a big play on a punt or kickoff return teamfrom Small.  Small is overdue.  If he doesn't hurry up and do something he is going to be the second coming of the enigma that was Bam Childress.  Our special teams needs to play well too.  Special team's play is probably the weakness of this team.  I hope they have a solid game or the rest of the team plays so well that it does not matter.

Truthfully, this game worries me, but then again they all do.

Here to hoping that Beanie is good to go.

[mjp28]

Big point, health of Beanie Wells, Hart & Henne.....who goes down or out might be a big deal!

Also, the BUCKEYES lost a lot last week, a shot at #1, a fired up "D" should be ready. The "O" lost the game.....also should be ready.

[buckeye2]

****TIME CHANGE****WAS ORIG. 3:30PM.....that changed!! ABC

Thanks for catching  that.......  I guess I was a little anxious for the game to start.

[NeutronMan]

I don't think Henne will last the whole game; one good hit on him and he could be done.  Hart is gonna get his yards against us, all we can do is try to slow him down.  After last weeks performance, I've lost some confidence in this defense.  We should be able to move the ball on Michigan.  I figure we'll spread them out and test the secondary, but if Beanie is feeling good he will definately have a big day against the Wolverines.

[AutoModGod]

After last weeks performance, I've lost some confidence in this defense.

Me too.  I think the D has been slowly fading.  I rewatched the Illinois game again last night and we really got burned when we had 3 down linemen and Grant standing as a rush end.  Not sure what the purpose of that defense was, but it reminded me of the D we used in the FLA debacle.

I think for the first time against Illinois Boeckman paniced.  He made a really early decision to scramble on the 3rd quarter tipped interception in the endzone.

We should be able to move the ball on Michigan.  I figure we'll spread them out and test the secondary, but if Beanie is feeling good he will definitely have a big day against the Wolverines.

From the spread is where I think we will try to run Boeckman a little.  UM will not be ready for it.  It is one of the plays that makes Tressel ball what it is.

JT always comes up with some new wrinkle for The Game.  I wonder what it will be this year?

[ctab5]

Most people are looking at the defense to keep Michigan in check. Personally, I think the key is our offense. The offense played a great game...for a while. Boeckman was the "talk of the town" after the Penn State and even Wisconsin games. Now, it's time to prove himself all over again. There were talks of being a Heisman candidate before last weeks loss. It's time for him to step up and have a big game. Without Boeckman opperating at full efficiency this weekend, this game will be tough. If Boeckman performs the final is 28-17 Ohio State. If Boeckman doesn't perform the game is decided by three points either way. With a possibility of getting our second loss.

[GoMichigan(NoGood)]

Ctab5,
You've predicted every single game without accuracy.(just pointing that out). Can you believe some of the nerve people in my school have, and teachers! How dare they were they luckeyes jackets around here. One of my teachers made a kid take of his OSU sweat shirt . CAN WE GET THIS THING GOING! Also does anyone feel like the game is kind of a let down just because of last years 1 vs 2 meeting? Oh well its still the best game of the year.