Chattanooga Times Free Press

No. 4 Michigan (10-1, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) at No. 10 Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 10 CFP), noon EST (Fox)

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Line: Michigan by 2. Series record: Michigan leads 58-49-6.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The Game is as critically important as ever, with the Big Ten East title and more hanging in the balance. A win for Michigan followed by a defeat of Northweste­rn in the conference championsh­ip game likely puts the Wolverines in the College Football Playoff. A win for Ohio State over its hated rival will help salve last month’s unexpected loss to Purdue and at least keep the Buckeyes in the playoff conversati­on if they go on to win the Big Ten. Ohio State has won the last six meetings and Jim Harbaugh hasn’t been able to beat the Buckeyes in first three seasons at Michigan.

KEY MATCHUP

Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins Jr. vs. Michigan’s defense: Haskins entered last year’s game in the third quarter after J.T. Barrett was injured and drove the Buckeyes 60 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and an eventual 31-20 win. As the Ohio State starter this season, Haskins is in the process of breaking most of the school’s single-season passing records. Michigan has the best defense in the country.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan: QB Shea Patterson. The Ole Miss transfer has given Michigan stability at quarterbac­k, piling up 2,177 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and just four intercepti­ons.

Ohio State: RB J.K. Dobbins. He and fellow tailback Mike Weber have had a couple of good games since the Buckeyes figured out how to get their running game unglued after it got stuck in the middle of the season.

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