Big Ten Championship Game Prediction

This game is a contrast of many things.

Ohio State and Michigan State couldn’t be much more different when it comes to their football programs.

Ohio State is the flashy, brand new, high-priced car. Michigan State is the weathered, rusted-out, used mid-90s Chevy Nova that takes a few tries to start.

Even this season, Ohio State was expected to be where it is. The Buckeyes were the preseason No. 2 team and many were handing them (including myself) the Big Ten Championship before the season even began. They were, and are, considered the jewel of the Big Ten conference.

Michigan State, on the other hand, wasn’t expected to be quite so successful. While there was some potential, the Spartans weren’t expected to go unbeaten in the Big Ten this year, largely due to their less-than-impressive offense.

Still, despite their differences, both teams have found their way to Indianapolis tonight.

However, the Spartans have taken the road less traveled to get there.

Ohio State may look better and perform better, but in my eyes, Michigan State is the team that will win this game.

The Spartans have been scratching and clawing their way up the hill to respect in the Big Ten. The numbers are there, but the final piece to the puzzle is still missing. That piece is an outright title and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State knows adversity and it knows what grinding out a win is all about.

Ohio State has won with flash and fireworks. The Buckeyes are all about style and winning with flare. They looked unbeatable against a light schedule and seemed well on their way to their destiny of an unbeaten season, until last week.

Perhaps I am putting too much stock into one game, but Ohio State exposed itself last week against a wounded Michigan team. The Wolverines actually took the fight to the Buckeyes, especially the OSU defense, and the Buckeyes didn’t respond too well.

Sure, the offense put up 42 points, but did so on a defense that can’t match what Michigan State has in any area. Conversely, the Buckeyes allowed 41 points to an offense that couldn’t post positive rushing yards against the Spartans.

Make no mistake, Michigan State is going to punch Ohio State right in the face today. The question is, how will the Buckeyes respond? This will be the first time this season Ohio State may not be able to push around its opponent. The bullies may find themselves getting bullied, and most bullies don’t respond well to that.

Ohio State has the talent to win this game, but I truly think Michigan State has the right team at the right time to win this game. This is the Super Bowl for MSU, while Ohio State still has its sights set on a BCS Championship Game.

I think Michigan State established the physical tone early and let

Ohio State know they are in for a fight. The offense will put up some early points and the defense will post some early stops. I expect Ohio State to adjust, as Urban Meyer is a great coach, but ultimately, he can’t make his players tougher over 48 minutes of football.

It will be the toughness and grit that will carry Michigan State to this win tonight. It won’t be pretty all the time – it never is – but that is the way the Spartans like it.

Michigan State 27, Ohio State 20

Why Ohio State can beat Michigan State

1. Carlos Hyde/Braxton Miller – I will be hesitant to say these two are the best players that will be on the field on Saturday night, because I have a lot of respect for some of the defensive talent MSU has. However, these two are clearly the top players on offense on either team and that is a big strength to have in college football. Hyde is a load to bring down and the Spartans have shown some struggles dealing with big, physical running backs in recent weeks. Hyde is every bit of his 6-foot, 242-pound l

isting and if he gets going early, it could be a long night for the MSU defense. Miller rushed for 136 yards and threw for 179 last year against Michigan State, but this defense is more dynamic. Still, he is a game breaker and doesn’t need much of an opening to break a big run or throw a big pass.

2. Connor Cook – Hyde and Miller can win the game for Ohio State, but it would be hard to imagine either one losing the game for the Buckeyes. The same can’t be said for the Michigan State quarterback. Cook has done a nice job of avoiding turnovers this year (4 interceptions) but he has been less than accurate on his fair share of passes. In a game like this, where MSU may have to score more than its 29.4-point average, Cook can’t afford to miss on a lot of throws, especially the ones that could lead to touchdowns. If MSU is unable to win, it wouldn’t surprise me if a couple of misthrows from Cook are a big reason as to why.

3. Urban Meyer – Like him or not, Urban Meyer is a darn good coach. I have respect for what Mark Dantonio has accomplished at Michigan State, but Meyer has won multiple national championships and has yet to lose as head coach of Ohio State. He can be out-coached in a single game, but it is likely that he will have some tricks up his sleeve for MSU. If Ohio State is to lose, I can’t imagine it will be because Meyer didn’t have his team ready to play.

Urban Meyer is just what the Big Ten needs

When Urban Meyer was hired to be the head coach of the Ohio State football program, we all knew things were going to change in the Big Ten.

Meyer was bringing his brand of football, one that led to multiple national titles and SEC championships, to the B1G. What that meant was a cut-throat style of recruiting and a take-no-prisoners attitude on the football field. It also meant that the conference was getting a guy that was going to shoot from the hip and push his agenda when he saw fit.

This week, Meyer felt it was necessary to hold the other Big Ten coaches accountable for their lackluster recruiting.

Here is what Meyer had to say following National Signing Day on Wednesday (from Yahoo! Sports):

“We do need to as a conference need to keep pushing that envelope to be better,” Meyer said to 97.1 The Fan, via Larry Brown Sports. “Our whole conversation [at the Big Ten coaches meeting] needs to be about ‘how do we recruit?’ When you see 11 of the SEC teams are in the top 25 that’s something that we need to improve.”

According to Rivals.com, Ohio State had the second-best recruiting class in the nation, with Michigan coming in fifth. The Big Ten had just three teams (Nebraska the third) in the top 25 while the SEC had six in the top 10 and all 14 members in the top 39. Michigan State came in at 38^th nationally, which put them fourth in the B1G.

It’s easy for Meyer to point the finger at the other teams in the conference, especially when he isn’t afraid to go after recruits that have already verbally committed to other Big Ten teams. Meyer has the recruiting budget that many other teams in this conference don’t and he also has the success on the field that many don’t.

Make no mistake, Meyer is a bully. He is a loud-mouth, narcissistic bully.  But, he is just what this conference needs.

Meyer, in just one year as coach of Ohio State, has become the identity of the conference. Meyer is the lone coach in this conference that knows what it takes to win a national title and what it is going to take for the conference to gain national respect.

It would be easy for Meyer to not say anything about the lackluster recruiting for the Big Ten. He could continue to recruit well and pick apart the conference most years, earning BCS bowl bid after BCS bowl bid.

Instead, he knows that to truly contend for a national title, he needs the Big Ten to be competitive and play at a high level. Meyer needs his team to be challenged by some of the best in the country during the regular season to know he can compete on the field with the best the SEC has to offer.

A stronger Big Ten from top to bottom means a stronger Ohio State.

Meyer is going to force the rest of the conference to play up to his level, like it or not. If teams aren’t able to keep pace with him, they are going to drown. Those that can keep pace will be much better for it and play at a higher level than they have in recent years. I’m looking at you Michigan.

I think we all can admit that the Big Ten has been down in football in recent years. That’s not meant to be an insult at Michigan State or Wisconsin, but it’s the truth. Neither team could truly lineup with the national champion that year and put up a fight.

Meyer wants that to change and is willing to do what it takes to make sure Ohio State is better than anything the Big Ten has recently produced. It appears that Brady Hoke feels the same, but time will tell if he can truly accomplish great things on the national stage.

Love him or hate him, Urban Meyer is the best thing going for the Big Ten, and he knows it.

*NOTE: Speaking of recruiting, I saw this tweet the other day from MSU 2014 verbal, Drake Harris (@drizzygetbusy01): Got the chance to talk to coach Meyer at Ohio state, coach hoke at Michigan, coach jones at Tennessee, and coach muschamp at Florida today!

It can’t make Mark Dantonio, or the Spartan fans, too excited to see Harris getting all this attention from some of the biggest programs in the nation. It will take a lot of work to keep this kid’s commitment.

Is Urban Meyer good for the Big Ten

Predictions for Michigan/OSU, MSU/Minnesota

Saturday marks the end of the regular season for both Michigan and Michigan State, with both teams playing very meaningful games. Here are my predictions for both contests.

Michigan at Ohio State

This game really feels like more than just an annual rivalry game. Ohio State is looking to get an undefeated season while Michigan is seeking a ninth win. Both coaches (Urban Meyer and Brady Hoke) are looking to make a statement against the other for the sake of the rivalry.

I expect this game to be similar to last year’s game, where it is an offensive showcase that could come down to the final possession. I think Ohio State will be able to move the ball on the Michigan defense thanks to the play-making ability of Braxton Miller. I think the Wolverines will also be able to find plenty of offense against an Ohio State defense that isn’t all that strong. I think Michigan will pull out all the stops on offense, incorporating Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson at multiple positions to keep the Buckeyes guessing.

Ultimately, I see the Buckeyes winning this one. This game means everything to Ohio State (no offense, Michigan fans). With no bowl game and no Big Ten Championship opportunity, this is the national title game for Ohio State. Meyer has built this game up to be everything for the fan base and the players, and it will take place in the Horseshoe. I think Michigan puts up a fight, but Ohio State finds a way to win in the closing moments.

Ohio State 34, Michigan 31

Michigan State at Minnesota

I know it’s easy to assume that MSU will just waltz in to Minnesota and win and become bowl eligible, but what have the Spartans done this year to prove that would be a given?

Mark Dantonio may have guaranteed victory in his weekly press conference, but the only guarantee I expect is that this game will come down to the final possession just like all other MSU games.

Minnesota has plenty to play for here, just like the Spartans. The Gophers are seeking their first 7-win season since 2008 and head coach Jerry Kill came under fire this week from former player, A.J. Walker. There will be plenty of Minnesota players that will look to rally around Kill and get him a big win to end the regular season.

I am still going to pick Michigan State, as the Spartans are more desperate for the win. A loss for MSU would make an awful season even worse. I don’t expect it to be pretty, but some way, the Spartans will find a way to win.

Michigan State 20, Minnesota 17