Revenge game: Ohio State tired of living with Michigan loss
A look at this week’s game that likely will have the greatest impact on the road to the College Football Playoff semifinal game Dec. 31 in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
No. 3 Michigan (11-0) at No. 2 Ohio State (11-0)
Time/TV:
Line:
Football feast:
10 a.m. Saturday/Fox Ohio State -7½
On a Thanksgiving weekend loaded with rivalries and special matchups, there’s no game with more on the line than this edition of The Game in Columbus. Both teams come in unbeaten for the first time since 2006, but Michigan is winless at Ohio Stadium since last winning there in 2000.
Revenge game: Ohio State has been counting the days until it could get a shot at revenge from last year’s humiliating 42-27 loss at Michigan that snapped the Buckeyes’ eight-game winning streak in the series and a run of 26 straight wins over Big Ten opponents. It denied the Buckeyes a Big Ten championship for the first time in five seasons and ended their chance to get into the College Football Playoff. “Of course, we’ve been licking our wounds for 365 days, hearing all the laughing and everything that everybody’s been saying,” said C.J. Stroud, Ohio State’s quarterback and a Heisman Trophy contender. “So man, we’re very excited.” Said Wolverines tackle Ryan Hayes: “Nobody wants to lose this game. We’re going to have all the motivation that we need.”
The road ahead: It might seem like a formality, but Saturday’s winner still has to take care of business in the Big Ten title game Dec. 3 in Indianapolis. The opponent would be Iowa, as long as the Hawkeyes (7-4) take care of Nebraska (3-8) on Friday. Otherwise, that opens the door for Purdue (7-4), playing at Indiana (4-7) for the Old Oaken Bucket on Saturday.
The pick: The Game has a long history of monster matchups. Eleven previous time the Buckeyes and Wolverines have played with both in the AP’s top five. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan broke a long drought in the rivalry last season on the way to a Big Ten title and playoff appearance. There is a chance the winner and loser could land in the CFP this year, but neither wants to test that possibility. … Ohio State, 35-24.
Other games to watch:
No. 13 Notre Dame at No. 5 USC: The Fighting Irish have won four straight meetings and eight of the last 11, but the stakes have not been this high for the Trojans in more than a decade. USC has dreams of a playoff spot and Heisman Trophy for star quarterback Caleb Williams. The Irish are hoping to put an exclamation point on Marcus Freeman’s first season as coach. … USC 38-31.
Iowa State at No. 4 TCU: Horned Frogs are due for a comfortable victory to wrap up an undefeated regular season and get set for the Dec. 3 Big 12 championship game … TCU 28-14.
No. 6 LSU at Texas A&M: Tempting to think LSU might be in position, like USC, to capitalize if a team ahead of it in the CFP rankings stumbles, but there would be this little matter of having to beat No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game Dec. 3. In Atlanta. First comes a meeting with an Aggies team playing out the string … LSU 24-16.