Bob Wojnowski: Pigskin Picks
Not even overrated Buckeyes can mess this one up
Well, this isn't good. The Wolverines look like roadkill these days, and if anyone appreciates a fresh batch of roadkill, it's a Buckeye.
But enough about dining habits. We have to talk football, and I'm actually here to say something nice about the neighbors who live beneath us. I'm happy to congratulate the Buckeyes on winning a fifth consecutive Big Ten title, a truly remarkable achievement against mediocre competition, similar to being named Ohio State valedictorian.
That's no knock whatsoever on the Sweater Vest's Buckeyes, who clearly have figured out how to win lots of games against slow, pudgy teams. The Wolverines used to do the same thing, then got bored (or arrogant, or foolish) and decided to go in an entirely different direction, one that did not involve tackling.
So once again, The Game looks like a mismatch, with the 9-2 Buckeyes planning to treat the 5-6 Wolverines like possum, run 'em over and pick 'em clean. Ohio State has won five straight in the rivalry, but before its fans are forced to use the other hand to count, I have a warning: There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded Wolverine. (Except, perhaps, an inebriated Buckeye with a box of matches.)
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OK, so there are things more dangerous than a wounded Wolverine. But nobody's more battered than this group of Wolverines, beaten by six straight Big Ten opponents. And -- cue the fight song that used to get played a lot around here -- this is the 40th anniversary of Bo Schembechler's program-defining stunner over Woody Hayes' Buckeyes.
Rich Rodriguez needs one of those, desperately. The problem is, Michigan won that 1969 classic 24-12 by not surrendering a point in the second half. These Wolverines get outscored in second halves by an average of 56-2.
Naturally, Rodriguez is getting all sorts of heat, being called such nasty things as "outsider," and "John Cooper." Cooper, you'll recall, built quite a reputation at Ohio State for winning games but losing the Big One. Rodriguez has to prove he can win the little ones, the medium ones and the Purdue ones before he starts winning the Big One.
Stay humble
There's a lesson in all this, and although Buckeyes are notoriously inattentive creatures, they can learn from their rivals: Don't take anything for granted.
The Buckeyes should clutch their precious Big Ten titles as if they were keys to a new double-wide, and not get fanciful thoughts of grabbing for more. Ohio State shouldn't risk trying to compete with the USCs, Floridas and Boise States. Know your place and protect it, otherwise you could be sitting where Michigan sits, on a throne of discord.
I don't mind saying Jim Tressel has done decent things, even if he has surrendered control of his state to Cincinnati. But greedy Buckeyes want more more more, an acceptable buffet strategy but dangerous in college football.
After Ohio State barely beat an injured Iowa last week, restless fans again accused Tressel of being boring and numbingly conservative. Near as I can tell, this is the standard Tressel game plan: Run, run, scramble, run, incompletion, punt. (Commercial.) Tackle, tackle, tackle.
Near as I can tell, this will be the Tressel game plan Saturday: Run, run, scramble, scramble, scramble, scramble, scramble, scramble, scramble, touchdown. Repeat as necessary.
It should not be that easy. In fact, I bet Tressel has something different up his snappy little sleeveless vest. No matter how often he loses to really good teams, he keeps the Ohio State crackpots pacified if he keeps beating Michigan.
Another beating
So, I'm not saying Tressel would love for Rodriguez to stay in Ann Arbor a long time. I'm just saying I heard he graciously offered to send Terrelle Pryor to Michigan as the player to be named later in the Justin Boren deal. I'm just saying Buckeye operatives found those missing workout logs in a dumpster behind Schembechler Hall, and Tressel convinced the NCAA to treat Rodriguez as gently as it treated his own Maurice Clarett "situation" (wink-wink).
These are strange times indeed for the world's greatest rivalry outside of Palin-Letterman. The Buckeyes already clinched the Rose Bowl bid but they're the spoilers here, because the Wolverines need a victory to revive their quaint tradition of going to a bowl.
The Buckeyes are loaded for bear, which is better than a Buckeye loaded and bare, I suppose. They'll start ambling into town any moment now, overrunning our White Castles, taking up two stools per person. The game should be close for a while, but I have a feeling we'll hear those drunken chants of "O-H! O-I!" deep into Saturday night.
Ohio State 24-9
Wojo's other picks
• Penn State at Michigan State: After a rough start, the 6-5 Spartans officially are eligible to lose a bowl game, which is cool. The Nittany Lions somehow have reached 9-2 without beating a single worthy opponent. That's Big Ten math for you! Penn State 24-20
• Connecticut at Notre Dame: Can Charlie Weis save his job? I'll say it one more time, for nostalgia's sake. Fat chance. Connecticut 28-24
Pigskin picks
