Maibag question: Can Michigan beat Ohio State this year

I enjoy reading your blog and I can feel your honesty on the topics you discuss.

In your honest opinion, do you think Michigan will beat Ohio State this year? I know this is a tough question and I am not really asking you to predict anything.

However, based up on your knowledge of the two teams' offense, defense, & special team, do you see Michigan breaking the curse this year? Better yet, what do you think Michigan's chances are against other rivals such as Notre Dame, Penn State, MSU, & Wisconsin?

Thanks,

Jean

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Thanks for the tough question and comments.

Ohio State definitely has the better talent at most positions at this time. There advantage at quarterback and the defensive line is considerable in our opinion.

That said we think Michigan's chance of beating Ohio State is better this year than next for several reasons and this is going against what most Michigan fans feel. This year's game is played in Ann Arbor and is always better to play at home then the "snake pit" for a Michigan team in which the fans in C-Bus are tough on any Michigan team let alone how good they might be that year.

Ohio State is still young on the offensive line and there best player is our former player Justin Boren. They have nobody (right now in our opinion) to replace Beanie Wells at this time, and will have a drop off at linebacker.

Also think the secondary, especially the safeties will not be up to Ohio State's usual standards under Coach Tressel.

In regards to the other teams in the Big Ten we feel Michigan will have to fight, bite, scratch in every game this year and cannot rely on being Michigan to win games.

Michigan cannot beat themselves which means making mental mistakes with penalties, turnovers, poor special teams play and giving up big plays on defense. That was huge part of last seasons problems besides struggling to learn and run the read-option offense that ranked in the 100's in almost every category last year.

Michigan fans probably do not want to hear this about Michigan State, but they might be a real threat for the Big Ten title this year because this is not your typical Michigan State program anymore. Remember last year everybody was waiting for them to fall at the end, but they fought in several games and came away with wins. This year they do not play Ohio State so that could be a factor for the Big Ten title and their toughest conference game is home against Penn State with their toughest conference road game possible being Illinois.

Penn State loses a lot of depth along with players that started, but they have a key person back and that is Darryll Clark. Some are scared what Penn State might be able to do this year, but we have to see it first with all those players gone.

Wisconsin even though they were ranked high last year at the beginning of the year feel fast and hard after the Michigan game. They were probably the biggest disappointment for the Big Ten and you have to think that Coach Bret Bielema is or will be on the hot seat even though former Coach Barry Alvarez was the one who appointed him in that position and is the current athletic director at Wisconsin.

Iowa could be the sleeper pick in the Big Ten, but not saying they have a chance at winning the Big Ten this year because they have tough games on the road at Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State.

Notre Dame has better talent and more experienced players at key positions, but will they finally turn it around or could this be the year Coach Charlie Weis looks for a new job after this season and Notre Dame goes hard after Urban Meyer? We has Michigan fans do not want to see Urban Meyer at Notre Dame.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine