The Ohio State Buckeyes know that they aren’t going to be able to go to a bowl game or the Big Ten Championship Game this year, but they do know that they might be able to ruin the season for the Michigan Wolverines, their arch rivals. Every single year, regardless of the circumstances, the OSU/Michigan rivalry is one of the biggest to watch over the course of the entire season, and this should be no exception. Gone are the days of Lloyd Carr and Jim Tressel, and in are the days of Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer, as both of these teams try to formulate their offenses out of styles that were born outside of the Big Ten. This won’t be a smash mouth football game as it was as recently as just a half dozen years ago, but it is definitely a college football matchup that is going to be one of the best of the season and should not be missed.

Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Picks & Info
Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Date: Saturday, November 24th
Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Spread: Ohio State Buckeyes -4

This is really the culmination of what amounts to be a brutal schedule for the Wolverines this year. There is a good chance that they will already have three losses and be out of the National Championship hunt, but this might be the difference as to whether they are going to end up in Detroit playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl or not. QB Denard Robinson might have a Heisman Trophy to go out and win as well. Hoke was able to win last year’s game against Ohio State, snapping a brutal run of seven straight losses to the Bucks. That’s what ultimately cost both Rich Rodriguez and the aforementioned Carr their jobs in Ann Arbor. However, if Hoke is really going to endear himself to the Big Blue nation, it would really help to win a game in Columbus, something that the Wolverines haven’t done since 2000. Last year, the defense for Michigan had one of its worst games of the year trying to slow down the Buckeyes, and with a still somewhat raw unit coming together, it could make for another struggle this time around as well.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Past Games (Since 1995)
2011: Michigan 40 – Ohio State 34
2010: Ohio State 37 – Michigan 7
2009: Ohio State 21 – Michigan 10
2008: Ohio State 42 – Michigan 7
2007: Ohio State 14 – Michigan 3
2006: Ohio State 42 – Michigan 39
2005: Ohio State 25 – Michigan 21
2004: Ohio State 37 – Michigan21
2003: Michigan 35 – Ohio State 21
2002: Ohio State 14 – Michigan 9
2001: Ohio State 26 – Michigan 20
2000: Michigan 38 – Ohio State 26
1999: Michigan 24 – Ohio State 17
1998: Ohio State 31 – Michigan 16
1997: Michigan 20 – Ohio State 14
1996: Michigan 13 – Ohio State 9
1995: Michigan 31 – Ohio State 23

By now, we will definitely know if Meyer is going to be able to work his magic in Columbus with QB Braxton Miller the same way that he was able to do so with QB Tim Tebow with the Florida Gators. Miller is really built in the same type of mold Robinson is, and in the end, that might be what it takes to be able to get this team back to the top of the Big Ten quite soon. There are going to be eight senior starters and several others in reserve that are going to be playing their last game here at the Shoe against Michigan, many of which have started for two or three years for the program. Winning this game would mean absolutely everything in the world. Remember that Ohio State has a whopping 19 returning starters from a year ago, and it starts right at the top with Miller, still just sophomore at quarterback.

Michigan @ Ohio State Free Picks^^: This is the Super Bowl for the Buckeyes, knowing that they aren’t going any further with their season than right here. This is the game that will be circled on the calendar for months and months prior to this point, and we expect to see the hosts shine. Miller should be in for a big time game, as he leads the Buckeyes to victory and likely makes himself a favorite to win the 2013 Heisman Trophy at the same time. It’s a sucker’s bet to be taking the Wolverines and the four points.

^^Note: This is a college football prediction that is made as of August 2012, and it does not reflect the opinions that our expert NCAA Football handicappers will have on this game. This article by our very talented sports blog staff is for entertainment and informational purposes only. If you would like to purchase our premium college football picks for the year, please Click Here.

Our college football expert handicappers will have their Michigan @ Ohio State picks ready on Saturday, 11/24.