There hasn’t been a team during Jim Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan that has torched the Wolverines more than Ohio State. Harbaugh has yet to beat the Buckeyes, coming within inches in 2016, and falling on an interception last season. The two most recent matchups have been awesome, and with the talent these teams have this year, it should be the same story.
For the fourth straight year, however, I think the Buckeyes get the better of Harbaugh and Michigan. The game is in Columbus, so they’ll have home field advantage. Ohio State’s offense should be the best that Michigan faces and their defense is right up there with Wisconsin and Michigan State for the top defense on the schedule. There are no real weaknesses in this armor.
Michigan doesn’t have the weapons to create weaknesses either. If Shea Patterson isn’t elite, he won’t be able to beat this secondary. If Higdon and Evans aren’t elite, they won’t be able to run. Ohio State’s defensive line is simply too good for this Michigan front five, and I think they get brutalized all game long.
Michigan’s defense should be able to keep it within reach, but we saw what Dwayne Haskins did to them last year. With him, JK Dobbins, Mike Weber, and every single receiver back, Ohio State has the firepower to do things to this defense that no other team can. If the playcalling is there, I just don’t see a way for Michigan to pull this out, as they finish the year 8-4 (5-4 in Big Ten), likely destined for another Outback Bowl.