Desmond Howard, David Pollack show no mercy to Ohio State and Michigan

When Desmond Howard questioned Ohio State’s strength of schedule, David Pollack was quick to flip it around and ask who Michigan has played up to this point.

While Michigan and Ohio State have looked dominant in the early part of the season, Desmond Howard and David Pollack are questioning their respective strength of schedules.

On the set of ESPN’s College GameDay at Lawrence, Kansas for Week 6, Howard brought up No. 3 Ohio State’s strength of schedule. Although the Georgia legend Pollack has no Dawg in the fight, he essentially called the kettle black here, as Howard’s No. 4 Michigan Wolverines have not exactly played a ton of world-beaters either. Regardless, their schedules will strengthen in Big Ten play.

Largely unproven up to this point, they still have to play each other, as well as East foe Penn State.

Desmond Howard, David Pollack debate Michigan-Ohio State’s weak schedules

Although Michigan and Ohio State are both a perfect 5-0 and ranked inside of the top five in Week 6, neither team has played a murderer’s row of opponents. While Ohio State had the stones to host Notre Dame over Labor Day Weekend, that looks to be the Buckeyes’ best win, even though the Fighting Irish will have to scratch and claw to achieve bowl eligibility under Marcus Freeman.

As for Michigan, the Wolverines did not play anyone of note in the non-conference. Their best win was a narrow one over Big Ten East rival Maryland. The Terps might be an 8-4 team this season, but that might be the zenith for Mike Locksley’s fringe top-25 team. For now, Michigan is having a difficult time holding its own at 3-2 Indiana in Bloomington. Big Noon Saturday picked a good one.

Ultimately, the second half of the season gets much harder for these two College Football Playoff contenders in the Big Ten. Michigan hosts Penn State next week. While they may go undefeated heading into the road game in The Horseshoe, Michigan State is a major rivalry game and the Illinois Fighting Illini are playing very well under second-year head coach Bret Bielema this season.

As for the Buckeyes, their schedule is a little tougher. They play at Michigan State in the late afternoon window in Week 6. While they host Iowa in two weeks, they will be at Penn State in what will surely be a blackout game in Happy Valley. They also have a potential trap game the week before the Michigan game when they go to College Park to play those feisty Terrapins.

Simply put, there are not a lot of ranked wins to be had on either Michigan or Ohio State’s slate.

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