We’re about to witness one of the most anticipated Ohio State vs. Michigan football games in the history of the greatest rivalry in all of sports. That alone makes Saturday an epic showdown between the No. 2 and No. 3 team in the College Football Playoff rankings. A win punches a ticket to the four-team playoff for one of the two bluebloods.
There are a ton of layers to peel back in this one with injury notes, offseason talking, the revenge factor from last season for the Buckeyes, and so much more. In fact, there’s so much, we’ve been cranking out the content and will continue to do so to get you ready for a truly historic matchup colored scarlet and gray with a little maize and blue sprinkled in.
One of the things we like to do every week is ask our writers to predict the outcome of the Ohio State game coming to a television, stadium, or streaming device near you that weekend, and you can bet we’re not going to skip out on this one.
Here is how Phil, Mark and Josh see the massive clash between Ohio State and Michigan shaking out on Saturday. We even add in a prediction from behind enemy lines with Wolverines Wire’s Trent Knoop to balance things out.
Phil Harrison, Publisher/Editor and Featured Writer
that ti❌e of the year#gobucks pic.twitter.com/exUL2CBjFA
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 23, 2022
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The Prediction
Make no mistake about it; this should be a significant challenge for Ohio State. You may not want to hear it, but Michigan is the real deal this year and has the talent, mindset and ability to come into Columbus and ruin the Buckeyes’ day — not to mention lofty goals all on the table.
There are injury concerns all around, and you have to like the Buckeyes being the team at home to kind of prop up the team and have them play with something a little extra. I can see this one being a heavyweight fight early on with both teams taking blows, but at some point, J.J. McCarthy will have to win this one with his arm, and I don’t think he’ll be able to match what C.J. Stroud and the OSU offense can bring all game long.
The Buckeyes win in a dogfight.
Score
Ohio State 31, Michigan 27
Mark Russell, Featured Writer
Saturday. pic.twitter.com/P8I6Vhfn01
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 22, 2022
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The Prediction
This is the one we’ve been waiting for Buckeye fans. And I think I can say with a fair amount of certainty that the coaches and players have as well.
This game has the makings of a good ‘ole fashioned Big Ten battle and both teams have something to prove. Michigan desperately wants to lay claim to the conference crown again after playing second fiddle to Ohio State for the previous 20 years. And the Buckeyes so very much want to prove that last year was a fluke more than a changing of the guard.
The Buckeyes have heard for a year now how “soft” they are. A man can only take so much of that kind of chatter, and Wolverine fans have been poking the proverbial bear persistently for close to 365 days now. Emotions will be high and I expect a few scuffles to break out early. However, an early dose of Dallan Hayden gets the ball rolling and opens the door for the OSU passing attack. With a home crowd backing them, the Buckeyes punch their ticket to Indianapolis and avenge the loss from a year ago.
Score
Ohio State 38, Michigan 27
Josh Keatley, Featured Writer
The Ga❌e essentials#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ZBZ5dKshxs
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 23, 2022
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The Prediction
The Michigan offensive line is arguably the best in college football, but nothing else on this offense scares me. Blake Corum is a good back, but there is no way he is close to 100%, and the passing game is less than ideal in Ann Arbor. The Buckeye offense will move efficiently and if the defense can show it has grown even the slightest since last season, this should be a win. The Wolverines are good, so this one will make us sweat, but Ohio State should win.
Score
Ohio State 35, Michigan 21
Trent Knoop, Wolverines Wire
The greatest rivalry in college football#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/IabqhdzcDf
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) November 23, 2022
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The Prediction
I really can see any scenario happening on Saturday. I think Michigan has the potential to dominate the line of scrimmage like last year. I can see Ohio State throwing the ball all over the Wolverines. And I can see either team hitting a field goal at the last second to win.
Score
Michigan 34, Ohio State 31
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