Michigan Week

With the conclusion of the Illinois game today, it's officially Michigan week for the Ohio State faithful.

With its 21-14 loss today to Northwestern, Michigan falls to 3-8 on the season. They're 2-5 in the Big Ten Conference this year--bested in futility only by Wisconsin, Indiana and Purdue. Indiana and Purdue had it coming for voting Obama over McCain. Wait, Wisconsin went that way too---oh, so did Michigan. I've discovered a pattern! Scratch that--upon further analysis, every single Big Ten school went for the President-Elect. Well, at least the nation's number one team, Alabama, went for McCrazy. But I digress . . .

With a win next Saturday, Ohio State can clinch a tie for its fourth consecutive Big Ten title. Ohio State needs Penn State to lose to Michigan State next week if it wants to go to the Rose Bowl. If Penn State wins, Ohio State will be on the outside looking in--needing an at-large selection by the BCS committee to make it to one of the "big" bowls.

But let us not count our chickens before they're hatched. We all know a wounded animal is still dangerous. Rich Rodriguez will be telling his win-challenged team that there is still a way to salvage their abysmal season---beat the Buckeyes. A victory in the shoe is just what the doctor orders for the down and out Wolverines. Adding salt to the open wound is Terrelle Pryor. Pryor, Ohio State's stud Freshman QB had Michigan and OSU as his final choices--obviously he chose OSU--more incentive for Michigan and Rodriguez to step it up a notch or two and show the "big fish" they couldn't net who's boss!

Don't think Pryor isn't itching to get out on the field and rub it in against the Wolverines. He's cocky, but he's a consummate team player. He's going to do everything in his power to make sure the seniors who chose to stick around (instead of drawing their multi-million dollar NFL salaries) leave with the sweet taste of victory.

Look for a hard-hitting game next week--and look for Terrelle Pryor to start his 2009 Heisman Trophy campaign early. Go Bucks, Beat Michigan!

Interesting stats in the OSU/Michigan rivalry:

--1st game played in 1897 (Michigan won 34-0).

--Both Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler were born in Ohio--Newcomerstown and Barberton.

--57-41-6

--The Shoe and the Big House are two of the biggest stadiums in college football.

--Tressel is 6-1 vs. Michigan. (73-15 overall).

--Rodriguez has yet to face Ohio State. (He's 3-8 with Michigan).

--Ohio State has 66 first round NFL draft picks. Michigan has 48.

--G