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Steve, Craig, and Tim welcome you to The Wolverine Den! For a preview of the next game, see below. For a look back (and incriminating pictures), choose a game on the Last Week menu. If you plan on attending a tailgate at The Den for the first time, check out the blog Den Law. Click on Buy Gear for TWD shirt! See you on Saturday.
This Week at The Wolverine Den
Game Weather
Ohio State at Michigan
Michigan Stadium
November 21, 2009 - 12 noon
Michigan vs. Ohio State is the greatest rivalry in sports. It’s a rivalry born on the stakes of the game and an underlying respect. While the fans of the respective teams can elevate this rivalry to unsightly heights, the players are respectful of the other team. Rarely do you see flagrant fouls or misconduct on the field. Don’t get me wrong, they don’t give a damn about the whole state of Michigan and Ohowihatohiostate. The teams have played on the last day of the Big Ten season ever since 1935 and in those 74 games, have an amazing record of 35 wins for Michigan, 35 wins for Ohio State with 4 ties. 47 of those games have decided the Big Ten Championship. The series is filled with upsets and ruined seasons. OSU beat undefeated Michigan teams in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 2006. Michigan beat undefeated Ohio State teams in 1969, 1993, 1995, and 1996. Michigan leads the all-time series 57-42-6. Ohio State has won 7 of the last 8.
Ohio State is lead by their defense – clearly one of the best in the nation. They are among the national leaders in total defense, scoring defense and rush defense. They have a strong defensive line, good linebackers and excellent safeties. The only weakness is the inexperience at cornerback. DL Thaddeus Gibson is their leader in sacks and is a tough run stopper in the middle. LB Ross Homan is the leading tackler and leads the team with 4 interceptions. As a team, OSU has intercepted 19 passes this season and forced 28 turnovers.
Pre-game Menu
Chili
Beef Tenderloin
Post-game
Pulled Pork
Burgers
Brats
On offense, sophomore QB Terrelle Pryor has not had a great season but is very talented. While not the greatest passer, he is shifty and can avoid the rush. He is also the leading rusher for the Buckeyes, although tailbacks Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are both capable. Ohio State has even started using the “wildcat” in certain situations. The wide receivers are good but not at the level of recent OSU teams.
Special teams at OSU are an enigma. Placekicker Aaron Pettrey was injured three weeks ago and is lost for the season. 26-year-old walk on Devin Barclay has make 4 of his 7 field goals as a replacement, including the game winner in overtime last week against Iowa. Punter Jon Thoma is averaging only 37.4 per punt, one of the worst in the nation.
The Buckeyes come into the game with a 9-2 record and ranked #10 in the latest BCS poll. They have also already clinched the Big Ten Championship and the trip to the Rose Bowl. A win would give them the outright Big Ten Championship. For Michigan, this is a chance to make their season. With a victory, Michigan will end their five-game losing streak to the Buckeyes and secure a bowl invitation. The Wolverine offense will need to take advantage of the weaknesses on Ohio State – weak play at cornerback, inconsistency on offense and a questionable kicking game. Michigan will need to overcome their own deficiencies – the inability to stop the mid level passing game, turnovers, and failing at scoring opportunities.
Ohio State is a 12 point favorite.
The Wolverine Den Trivia
Brandon Graham now leads the nation with 21 tackles-for-loss. Who was the last Wolverine that finished the season as the national leader in TFLs?
Steve's Prediction
21-17
Craig's Prediction
16-14
Tim's Prediction
35-21
Great Moments in Wolverine - Buckeye History
Do You Remember?
The last time Ohio State had already clinched the Big Ten Championship and trip to the Rose Bowl before the Michigan game was 1996. The undefeated Buckeyes were 18 point favorites over the struggling Wolverines. Ohio State dominated the first half but could not find the end zone, settling for 3 field goals and a 9-0 halftime lead. In the first drive of the 2nd half, back-up QB Brian Griese threw a quick slant to Tai Streets for a 63 yard TD pass. The Wolverines played tough defense the rest of the way and scored just enough to knock off the Buckeyes 13-9.
It must have been the Michigan helmet that Tim wore in to the horseshoe that day that made the difference.
- 1950: In the famous “Snow Bowl”, Michigan punted 24 times, OSU 21 times. Michigan won 9-3 on a blocked punt returned for a TD
- 1969: The start of the Bo-era at Michigan that rekindled the rivalry. Michigan intercepted 6 Rex Kern passes and beat the so-called “team of the century” 24-12
- 1971: Billy Taylor’s 21 yard run with two minutes left capped a perfect season and a 10-7 win
- 1973: A classic battle that ended in a 10-10 tie on a controversial missed FG by Mike Lantry in the final seconds
- 1976: Michigan shuts out the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium. Michigan had no yards passing in the game
- 1986: Michigan comes back from a 14-3 deficit to win 26-24 and back up Jim Harbaugh’s “guaranteed” victory
- 1988: John Kolasar returns a kickoff in the final two minutes 59 yards, then catches the winning 41 yard touchdown on the next play to give Michigan a 34-31 victory
- 1991: Michigan dominates OSU behind Desmond Howard’s Heisman pose
- 1993: Michigan shuts out the Buckeyes to deny them a Rose Bowl
- 1995: Michigan beat the undefeated OSU behind 2 interceptions from Freshman Charles Woodson and 313 yards rushing from Tshimanga Biakabutuka
- 1996: Michigan beat the undefeated OSU (again) and denied them their first national championship since 1968
- 1997: Michigan wins with a Woodson punt return and an Andre Weathers interception return on their way to the national championship
- 2000: Drew Henson had his best game in a Michigan uniform with 303 yards passing and 3 TD’s plus the game clinching TD on a 4th down run in the last minute of the game
- 2003: Braylon Edwards had 131 yards receiving and 2 TD’s while Chris Perry had 154 yards rushing and 2 TD’s as Michigan won the 100th game in the series. It was also the largest crowd ever at 112,118 fans in the Big House
- 2006: #1 vs #2. A classic battle that went down to the wire with Ohio State winning 42-39
Great Plays - Great Players
- Howard’s and Woodson’s famous punt returns
- Tom Curtis’ interception to seal the victory in 1969
- Steve Smith to Triando Markray for a 67-yd TD in 1983
- Harbaugh to John Kolasar for a 77-yd TD in 1987
- Demetrius Brown to Greg McMurtry for a 57 yd TD and 41 yards to Kolasar in 1988
- Biakabutuka’s 313 yards rushing in 1995
- Leroy Hoard’s 158 and Tony Boles’ 103 yards in 1988
- Ron Simpkins had 20 tackles in the 1977 game
- Trent Zenkewicz had 4 sacks in the 1994 game
- JD Carlson’s game-winning 37 yard FG to win the 1990 game
- Jamie Morris’ 210 yards rushing in 1986
- Anthony Carter’s 2 catches for 125 yards as a freshman in 1979
- Julius Curry’s 50-yard interception return for a TD to put away the 2000 game
- Braylon finished his Michigan career with three 100-yard receiving games against OSU
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