Roles Reversed for The Game 2011

The roles are reversed for this year’s Ohio State/Michigan game.  Michigan, who hasn’t beaten OSU since 2003, is the favorite.  Michigan is the better team.  Michigan has the BCS Bowl berth on the line.  Michigan is the hot team. 

Ohio State, who has suffered through a season that no program would want to experience, enters the game reeling.  After an exciting, improbable win over Wisconsin, the Buckeyes slogged though a win over hapless Indiana and played badly against Purdue and Penn State, but came within a whisker of winning both of those games.  Ohio State also has nothing to lose.  They at best will get the Gator Bowl, not as prestigious as it once was and at worst would get the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, that could play against the Buckeyes.  The distraction of the Urban Meyer rumors  becoming the new coach could also be a negative.  It could also be the rallying point to get the Bucks past the smartaleck Wolverines.  Plus nobody thinks (except Dom Tiberi and Columbus homers) the Buckeyes can win this game anyway – so again what do they have to lose? 

Michigan is focused, no doubt, new coach Brady Hoke has embraced the rivalry – although his calling Ohio State “Ohio” is a bit hoke-y – no make it down right – dumb.  However, he will definitely have the Maize and Blue ready.  One factor that may be missed on some for this game is that with the roles being reversed this year, Michigan has all the pressure.  The pressure to earn a BCS berth, the pressure to end the losing streak and actually make  this a rivalry again and the pressure to back up their smartaleck talk.  One thing that I have learned in my recent background of dealing with 18-22 year olds is that many times they don’t do well with pressure. 

I have a bit of advice for Hoke and Co.  You better get Ohio State while you can – because if the rumors are true and Urban Meyer is going to be the new coach – the recent Scarlet and Gray domination in this series will continue. 

I will be right there watching, rooting hard for the Buckeyes.  The law of averages says Michigan will win the game and most likely they will, but I will never count out the Bucks and you never count out the underdog in this rivalry.  Go Bucks! BEAT MICHIGAN!!!