Can We Finally Win?

[Eric]

I'm back, for a hot minute

How have you guys been doing this season?

I had to check back in for the Michigan / Ohio State week banter. I really can't follow college football like I used to and free time to waste on the Internet hasn't always been there.

[Eric]

You might be wondering what my take on Michigan football is after talking them down for the last decade. Well, I have to say that this season has finally been a success in the mold of what I want to see them do. You can't really contend for playoffs every season, so any time you are 10-1 you will take it. My analysis from last year about this season being a disaster depended on Michigan being forced to play Wilton Speight or Brandon Peters or Dylan McCaffery, but Shea Patterson has added a real element to this offense that was missing for the last two years. It also depended on the continued improvement of the B1G, which undoubtedly hit a snag this year: Penn State is not 2016 or 2017 Penn State, Maryland had their enormous off-field issues, Nebraska sputtered out of the gate (but Frost will eject the bad apples and flush out the system quickly), Wisconsin's QB issues have finally caught up to them, and MSU's offense has reached critical mass of suckiness. But, I like where the running game is at. Blocking has been upgraded from last year. Defense is great as always, #1 statistically in the nation.


BUT....But....I will say that the job won't be done if they lost to the Buckeyes next week. I'll take a Buckeye win and a loss to Northwestern the following week, I honestly don't care about that game because this team has -100% chance of beating Alabama or Clemson, so wasting our time and energy like that isn't necessary. But the entire point of hiring Harbaugh was to re-establish national relevency and then to win championships, of any variety. And winning the B1G East, the division you co-inhabit with Ohio State, would be amazing. But this would still bump his overall record to 1-3 vs. Ohio State, 2-2 vs. Michigan State, 0-1 vs. Notre Dame, and assuming a playoff loss, 1-3 in bowl games. So we have a lot of work to do to dig us out of this hole and the only way to get it done is to win next week.

So Ohio State looks like garbage right now right? Despite their 10-1 record, they are skating by teams and their linebacker and defensive back play is appalling. Doesn't matter. They will flip the switch when they get Michigan. Some of this stuff is systemic so the problems won't totally go away. Their LBs won't magically turn into AJ Hawks on a dime, but they will play competently. The offense can still throw the football and their running style is something that Michigan has struggled with in the past.

So here's what happens, and Spence will be happy: Ohio State takes an early 7-0 lead. Michigan calms down, goes on a run, shuts their offense down, it's something like 17-7 at the half. Michigan gets up, let's say, 20-7 late 3rd quarter. Then the chokejob begins. Ohio State hits a bomb pass over the top. Turnover. Slant to KJ Hill / Paris Campbell. 21-20. Stop. Touchdown. 28-20. FG. 28-23. Run the clock out. Game over.

BUCKEYES WIN!!!!!!!!..............AGAIN!!!!!!!!

[Eric]

If you doubt my game-calling abilities (and judging by my picks record over the years, you have ample reason to ), I called the game script of Maryland/Ohio State at the end perfectly. I said Maryland's touchdown call would get overturned, but that it will give Maryland an opportunity to kill clock. They get it to 3rd and goal. I said Buckeyes get a stop, but there will be holding or PI in the end zone for fresh set of downs. Then I said Ohio State should let them score, but they will try to hold and waste precious timeouts, while giving up the touchdown on 3rd and goal.

I mean my God, how can a team make that many mental errors and get away with it? That was the tip of the iceberg, Ohio State was doing dumb things and shooting themselves in the foot constantly, and it never let up. It totally had the feel of the Purdue game where you just shake your head and say, "this isn't going to stop today, right?"

[donovan]

You have been sorely missed. I think your call is correct.

[Spence]

Welcome back Eric. I will congratulate you now. My team has zero chance of beating your team next week. Worst Buckeye team I think I may have ever seen.

[Mountainman]

Hello Eric....... it’s been a while. How you been???

[Derek]

Good to see you back Eric!! At least for a little while.

[Eric]

Welcome back Eric. I will congratulate you now. My team has zero chance of beating your team next week. Worst Buckeye team I think I may have ever seen.

I feel you, and your analysis is correct. This is the worst Ohio State has been since 2011 (although they're definitely better than that lame duck squad), and then I think it was 2004 where they weren't so hot before that. Otherwise, they've been a juggernaut. They've been barely good enough to win a lot of these games that they should have lost, so I don't think they are actually playoff material despite the W/L record. I would take UCF on a neutral field.

BUT!.....It won't matter. They'll find the extra gear and play with us. I still don't think we are dominant enough when you see teams like Indiana and Northwestern hang around the way they do. Our offense isn't explosive enough to bury teams, so the game will be close thru 3.5 quarters at least, despite the issues on Ohio State's defense.

[donovan]

From an outsider, this is not a game between Ohio State and Michigan. It is a game that is between Meyer and Harbaugh. Both have so much to immediately prove. Both are proven long-term, but a win clears up Meyers health and diminishes the "stuff recent months, the suspension, etc. Harbaugh needs to beat Meyer. He won't go anywhere regardless of the outcome, but can he beat Meyer. A loss and everything he does melts into oblivion and back to square one. it's their own making so they can just duke it out. Hmm...Michigan by 14.

[Spence]

Eric, if Ohio State could get a stop, any kind of stop I would think offensively they would have a chance. They don’t. Even with Michigan State; Sparty stooped them selves. Receivers were open Lewerky just couldn’t get it to them. They didn’t have a back in that game.

Losing Kerry Combs was a bigger deal than I thought and we need a linebacker coach worse than a cornerback coach.

Ohio State is weak on the offensive line which Will be a battle your team will win the whole game. Haskins is the best pure QB Ohio State has ever had, but he can’t be effective on his back. Ohio State has two guards and a tackle that are so slow the play is over before they get out of their stance.

Your offense against the Buckeye D. They only thing that can stop your offense on the field is wearing Maize and Blue. Ohio State’s has nothing past the defensive line. The linebacker think the gap is a store. It won’t be a game this year. There is no scenario Ohio State wins unless the bus from that state up north doesn’t make it to Columbus by game time. They aren’t a playoff team I. Any way, shape, fashion, or form.

Donovan, 14 is being kind. Me picking Ohio State this week is my gift the board in the picks game. That is the only game I am conceding though. Going for 19/20

As for Meyer, I don’t know what is going on with him health wise, but I don’t think he has lost is ability to coach because of it. I’m not his biggest fan and I never will be. He is lots more dynamic than Tress, but I would have always rather had the senator.
A mobile QB can mask a lot of problems on the oline, or make it not as important. Without a mobile QB Ohio State’s offensive line can’t line up and blow the defense of the ball this year (or last really) so the running game is obsolete against a team that can play gap sound defense. Meyer is safe at Ohio State if he wants to be safe, but if he doesn’t make some changes to the coaching staff this off season his seat will start to warm up quickly.

[Cane from the Bend]

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Donovan, 14 is being kind. Me picking Ohio State this week is my gift the board in the picks game. That is the only game I am conceding though. Going for 19/20

Or, 29/30 ... actually, never mind, I'm okay with you scoring 19

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[Spence]

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Donovan, 14 is being kind. Me picking Ohio State this week is my gift the board in the picks game. That is the only game I am conceding though. Going for 19/20

Or, 29/30 ... actually, never mind, I'm okay with you scoring 19

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I didn't count the games. So 29/30 is ok