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The biggest advantage Ohio State Football has over Michigan

By Ryan Stano

Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) tackles Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Jordan Nubin (30) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium.
Nov 18, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) tackles Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Jordan Nubin (30) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. /
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The Ohio State football team is looking to exploit any weakness that Michigan has this week. They are still going through an investigation into sign-stealing and illegal advanced scouting, so there are a lot of distractions floating around that program before The Game kicks off.

Both teams are very good. Michigan is still a talented team with really good players. We obviously know that the Ohio State football team is very good as well. There is one significant advantage that they have over Michigan that they can use to help win the game.

That advantage is Ohio State’s secondary against J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy has not looked like a good quarterback in the last few games. He only threw the ball eight times against Penn State and threw for just 141 yards and an interception while completing just 52% of his passes against Maryland.

Maryland does not have the same suffocating defense that Ohio State has. Ohio State has the best pass defense in the nation. They allow just 144.4 yards per game. McCarthy didn’t get a chance to try to throw against Penn State because the Nittany Lion’s offense was so bad that Michigan was content running it three times and then punting because they knew Penn State couldn’t score.

TTUN will have no such luxury on Saturday afternoon. Ohio State’s offense is miles better than Penn State’s. Despite their struggles, Ohio State still has the best passing offense in the Big Ten, averaging 283.7 yards per game through the air.

Because of that passing attack and TreVeyon Henderson on the ground, McCarthy is going to be forced to throw the ball. He hasn’t been the same since the Stalions news broke. Whatever the reason for his struggles, this is the best overall team he’ll have to face.

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If Ohio State can get a lead early, they will force TTUN to have to throw it. That’s exactly what the perfect gameplan is because I don’t think he can move the ball very well against this rugged Buckeye defense. That’s the biggest advantage they have in this game.

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