NCCA College Football Week 12 - #2 Michigan @ #1 Ohio State
#2 Michigan @ #1 Ohio State
Saturday, 3:30 pm Eastern
ABC
Opening Line: Ohio State – 6.5
The biggest game of the year is finally here. A berth in the BCS title game is at stake Saturday at Ohio Stadium as No. 1 Ohio State (11-0, 7-0) faces No. 2 Michigan (11-0, 7-0). ''It's a tremendous feeling,'' said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. ''You can feel the electricity and the energy.'' For the first time in the 103-year history of the series, the teams are ranked #1 and #2 in the Top 25. The winner gets to celebrate a Big Ten title and has a spot in the BCS championship game on Jan. 8, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz. SBG Global reports that the public is going with the nations #1 team in the country at home.
Ohio State is a 7 point favorite with a total of 41 at SBG Global.
''We've played this game now, Michigan vs. Ohio State, for 102 years,'' said Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr. ''To have this be the first time in over a century that both teams are ranked 1-2 ... It's a dream to not only coach in this rivalry, but to be able to play in a game like this certainly is very, very special.'' Ohio State has won the last two meetings in Columbus, including a 14-9 victory in 2002 that sent the Buckeyes to the BCS title game, where they upset Miami 31-24 in double overtime.
The Buckeyes have probable Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith starting at quarterback while Michigan has Mike Hart, Chad Henne and Mario Manningham. Smith is 24-2 as a starter, including 2-0 against the Wolverines. Two years ago, Smith threw two touchdown passes and ran for 145 yards and a touchdown as Ohio State won 37-21. Last year, he was 27-of-37 for 300 yards and a touchdown as Ohio State won 25-21 at Michigan.
''He wants to have the ball in his hands, he wants to make a difference,'' Tressel said. ''He cares so deeply for his teammates and he wants something good to happen for them.'' Everyone knows the importance of this game. ''It's going to be the biggest game of probably everybody's life on this team,'' Hart said. ''We're undefeated, they're undefeated, we're playing for a Big Ten championship and a chance to go to the national championship, so I don't think there's a bigger game out there.''
Michigan is 27-21-2 in Columbus and leads the series 57-39-6.
Play in the $500,000 Turkey Bowl Contest at SBG Global.