Michigan vs Ohio State: 3 Keys and a prediction for The Game

Michigan football and Ohio State will meet in The Game on Saturday. Here are three keys for both teams as well as a prediction.

It doesn’t get much bigger than the top-5 showdown set to take place in Ann Arbor Saturday between Michigan football and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

For the Ohio State football program, this will be another chance to show dominance over the Wolverines and the Big Ten. The Buckeyes can win their ninth straight over the Wolverines and clinch another berth in the Big Ten title game with a win.

Second-ranked Ohio State controls its playoff destiny, as does Michigan football. The Wolverines have had a stellar bounce-back season under Jim Harbaugh.

Many questioned when he was signed to an extension last year, albeit one with a big cut in base salary, but this is why. The fifth-ranked Wolverines are in position again, but this is one of the humps Harbaugh just hasn’t been able to get over.

Michigan does have an outstanding defense, probably the best Ohio State has seen all year long. But the Buckeyes have a truly incredible offense, one that’s right there with the Joe Burrow-led LSU offense a couple of years ago.

C.J. Stroud, who is the Heisman frontrunner after tossing six touchdowns in one half against Michigan State, looked like Burrow in that game and along with talented receivers such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba — plus the insanely talented TreVeyon Henderson, as well as a loaded offensive line, this offense feels like the college version of the Greatest Show on Turf.

Michigan does have elite defenders such as Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, who are each playing like top-10 picks, as well as Daxton Hill and a first-year defensive coordinator who is sure to bring some new wrinkles to The Game.

Who will win? We’ll toss out our prediction at the end, but first three keys for Michigan football and Ohio State.