Ohio State vs Michigan: 5 reasons Wolverines defeat Buckeyes

1. They’re the best defense Ohio State has faced

Even when Michigan’s offense has stalled, their defense has remained a consistent force all year. They lead the country in six categories, including fewest points allowed (10.9) and yards per game (245), while leading the Big Ten in eight categories.

Ohio State has an impressive resume, but they’ve never faced a defense like Michigan’s. The closest they’ve come is Wisconsin, who held them to 411 total yards and nearly won that game. But the Wolverines’ defense, which was already great last year, has gotten better under the guidance of first-year defensive coordinator Don Brown. And given that his nickname is Dr. Blitz, you know what type of play he specializes in.

The Buckeyes’ offensive line is great, but they’ve allowed 17 sacks in 11 games. Barrett struggled in the games where he was sacked the most – against Michigan State (three times), Penn State (six times), and Wisconsin (twice). He couldn’t get his passing going in those games, so he abandoned the spread offense and ran it more than he threw it. Barrett’s a great rusher, but he can’t win games by doing that.

If Michigan State can get to Barrett three times, there’s no reason to think Michigan can’t do the same. After all, they lead the Big Ten in total sacks. And even if Ohio State is just as effective on the defensive side of the ball, their slugfest in Iowa City has prepared them for a game like this. If Michigan can neutralize Ohio State’s passing attack, as well as limit Curtis Samuel’s touches, The Game will belong to them.

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At its most basic form, this is a loser-leaves-town matchup. But this game goes well beyond the final result when all is said and done. No matter what happens, this rivalry has been reignited, and that’s a great thing for college football.