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Ohio State Football: 3 bold predictions for the Michigan game

By Frank Teriaca

Currently, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a four-game winning streak in Ann Arbor. With a win on Saturday, Ohio State will tie Michigan's streak of nine games from 1901-1909 as the longest in the series.Since 2000, Michigan is 3-17 vs. Ohio State.Michigan Football
Currently, the Ohio State Buckeyes have a four-game winning streak in Ann Arbor. With a win on Saturday, Ohio State will tie Michigan's streak of nine games from 1901-1909 as the longest in the series.Since 2000, Michigan is 3-17 vs. Ohio State.Michigan Football /
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The Ohio State defense should be able to handle TTUN’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Spring Game
The Ohio State defense should be able to handle TTUN’s offense. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Spring Game /

Prediction 2: The Ohio State football team toys with JJ McCarthy

Former five-star recruit and current Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy wanted to be a Buckeye. Ryan Day chose fellow five-star recruit and current Ohio State backup quarterback Kyle McCord instead. This allowed Michigan to swoop in and grab him and the Wolverines are sure glad they did.

McCarthy has brought a spark to this offense that they haven’t had in years. He’s controlling the game on offense, adding to the running game with his running abilities, and isn’t turning the ball over. He only has two interceptions on the year. For all that McCarthy does well, he still isn’t a major threat throwing the ball yet.

In fact, he’s only thrown the ball for over 200 yards just once in the last five games and that was last week against Illinois when he had 208 yards passing. Michigan, like Ohio State, has two injured star running backs whom they highly depend on. Even if Corum and Edwards do play, I don’t expect them to be at 100 percent.

That means McCarthy will have to throw the ball, and Michigan’s offensive coordinator Matt Weiss may even open up things in the passing game, knowing that these Ohio State corners are vulnerable.

And that’s where the stellar hire of Jim Knowles comes into play for the Buckeyes. No doubt, this wizard of defense will have a few tricks up his sleeve for the young quarterback. Knowles is a master at disguising coverages and for young quarterbacks, that spells trouble.

Look for Knowles to out-scheme his counterpart on Michigan’s sideline in this game, proving that his hire last offseason was well worth the money. It could be a long afternoon for McCarthy in terms of throwing the ball against this Ohio State defense.

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