Fansided

3 reasons this Michigan team should strike fear into Ohio State

By Cody Williams

Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan Wolverines. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/Detroit Free Press /

Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines are 5-0 after walloping Wisconsin in Madison and rival Ohio State should be getting scared of Big Blue. 

The Michigan Wolverines had never won on the road as an underdog under head coach Jim Harbaugh coming into their Week 5 trip to Camp Randall Stadium against Wisconsin. They changed that emphatically on Saturday with a resounding 38-17 win over the Badgers that wasn’t even that close as the home team scored in the final moments to get to 17 points.

Outside of letting off the gas too much against Rutgers, Michigan has been wholly impressive to start the 2021 season. But everything with Harbaugh and the Wolverines comes down to the final game of the year against rival Ohio State. They have been an immense thorn in the head coach’s side, not just beating them, but dismantling Big Blue consistently.

But this time around, Ohio State should be scared. Michigan looks different and, after their first road win as an underdog under Harbaugh, here’s why the Buckeyes should be worried that Harbaugh could get another first this season by knocking off OSU.

3. Michigan’s defense has NFL talent playing at a high level

Letting Don Brown go was a long time coming for the Wolverines. Far too often, he put his defensive players, particularly in the secondary, in too tough of spots. Mike Macdonald, however, has done a much better job in that capacity but, more importantly, the studs up front have been shining.

In the loss to Oregon, we saw Ohio State struggle at times with the Ducks’ front seven, even if they were without two of their best players. When Michigan is able to throw Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo coming off the edge, that could be a real problem for the Buckeyes.

When you then factor in a top-tier playmaker like safety Daxton Hill, that becomes even more problematic for OSU, especially with the inconsistent accuracy of C.J. Stroud to this point. All told, this defense has looked like they have the goods to slow a lesser Buckeyes attack down.

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