Michigan, Ohio State set for The Game

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Who: No. 3 Michigan (10-1, 7-1) at No. 2 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1)

When: 12:00 p.m., Saturday

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio.

TV/Radio: ESPN/1410

Series history: Michigan leads 58-48-6, including a 27-26-2 advantage in Columbus. Ohio State is on a four-game winning streak and has won 13 of the last 15 games against the Wolverines. The Buckeyes have a 48-46-4 lead in the series since it became an annual game in 1918.

Last game: On Nov. 19, Ohio State won at Michigan State 17-16 and Michigan beat Indiana 20-10.

Coaches: Ohio State's Urban Meyer is 60-5 in his fifth season, including 4-0 against Michigan. Jim Harbaugh is 20-4 in two seasons leading the Wolverines and lost his first meeting with the Buckeyes as a head coach last season.

Ohio State notes: Meyer is 18-1 in the month of November as a head coach. His only loss was to Michigan State last season… Ohio State is fifth in the nation in scoring at 43.8 points per game… The Buckeyes have allowed 12 touchdowns on defense, second-fewest in the country… Quarterback J.T. Barrett enters the game having been responsible for 99 touchdowns, second in Big Ten history to Purdue quarterback Drew Brees' 106… Ohio State leads the country in pass efficiency defense and ranks third in scoring defense (13.0 points per game). … The Buckeyes are third in the country in total defense (274.4 yards per game)… Ohio State has scored six defensive touchdowns… Wayne grad Robert Landers, a defensive tackle, has 7½ tackles for a loss.

Michigan notes: The Wolverines lead the nation in total defense, pass defense, third down defense, tackles for loss and first downs allowed… Michigan's offense ranks 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten in scoring at 42.3 points per game… The Wolverines have outscored opponents 277-53 in the first half this season… Trotwood-Madison graduate Mike McCray is in his first season as a starting linebacker for the Wolverines and ranks third on the team with 63 tackles, including 11 1/2 for loss… Wayne graduate Tyree Kinnel is a reserve defensive back who has 18 tackles in 19 career games for the Wolverines.

Next game: If Michigan wins, the Wolverines will play the Big Ten West champions in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Dec. 3. If Ohio State wins and Michigan State beats Penn State, the Buckeyes go to the conferenece title game. The loser's regular season is over.

Prediction: Ohio State 20, Michigan 17.

About the Author