Michigan football has one massive advantage against Ohio State, and must exploit it to have a chance at an upset
On paper, this is the most lopsided matchup we have seen in several years between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State is currently a 20.5-point favorite this weekend, and there's a very good reason for that. One team is sitting with a 10-1 record and the No. 2 ranking in college football, […]
On paper, this is the most lopsided matchup we have seen in several years between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State is currently a 20.5-point favorite this weekend, and there's a very good reason for that. One team is sitting with a 10-1 record and the No. 2 ranking in college football, while the other is just 6-5 after a national championship last season.
With Michigan winning three straight games in this rivalry, you can bet the Buckeyes will come in with vengeance on their minds. The Wolverines sit between Ohio State and a rematch with Oregon in the Big Ten Championship. You can trust there will be a massive focus on their side.
In order for Michigan to have any chance in this football game, they have to shorten it and make it an ugly lower-scoring affair. They must lean into their defense, which is still very talented in multiple spots. Those strengths must be massive ones on Saturday afternoon.
When you dissect the biggest strengths on this Michigan defense, it is by far the defensive line. To get more specific, it’s the strongest on the interior of that group. Defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant combine to be a dominant group, while players like Rayshaun Benny make up strong depth.
Graham is wildly considered one of the top overall players in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Grant has also confided his name in the first round conversation, and has gotten better and better down the stretch of the 2024 college football season.
They will be matched up against an Ohio State offensive line that is doing a solid job, but is still a makeshift group. With the injury to Josh Simmons a few weeks ago, Donovan Jackson had to move out to fill the void. Then you saw starting center Seth McLaughlin also go down a couple of weeks ago, another huge loss to the interior.
The interior trio of Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman, and Tegra Tshabola performed pretty well against Indiana, but the Michigan defensive line group is a whole other animal. If someone like Graham or Grant can take over the game, then they could have a chance down the stretch. If not, then this one could be a blowout.
On paper, this is Michigan’s biggest advantage in this football game. Will the younger interior of the Buckeyes be able to hold up? That’s the key for making a statement this weekend on either side.
