1. Ohio State – AWAY – Nov. 28
(Admittedly arbitrary) Chances of winning
25%
What poses difficulty
Everything. Literally everything.
The only potential point of weakness for the Buckeyes is at running back, with J.K. Dobbins departing and Master Teague’s status in question due to injury. There’s no telling if the next man up will be in the same class, but the Buckeyes return Heisman candidate Justin Fields at QB and have an astonishing cadre of top-flight wide receivers to go along with a solid TE corps, led by Jeremy Ruckert, and an incredible offensive line.
The defense was a problem for OSU in 2018, but it rebounded in 2019 to become the best in the country. Co-coordinator Jeff Hafley departed to take the Boston College job, but Greg Mattison remains. It seems unlikely that Ryan Day’s squad takes any semblance of a step back in 2020 after an incredible debut in 2019.
How Michigan wins
100% mistake free football. We’re talking execution, getting pressure on Justin Fields without losing contain, out-scheming the Buckeyes. It would have to be a perfect game, and one with zero turnovers.
Michigan could have won in 2016 if it didn’t turn the ball over three times, but alas, it didn’t, and then some questionable calls didn’t help. It played about as well as it could have given its limitations in 2017, but still fell short by two scores. 2018 and 2019 saw the Wolverines completely outmatched and outclassed. It’s impossible to predict when Michigan will right the ship against its arch-rival, and given OSU’s roster and The Game being in Columbus, it’ll be an uphill battle again in 2020.
Your Turn
[opinary poll=”how-confident-are-you-that-michigan-will-wcH0lu” customer=”collegewires”]
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