Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that
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We are here, fam. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which means the day after tomorrow is Black Friday, so we are essentially two holidays away from the highest of holidays on the Buckeye calendar, The Game! It almost seems fitting that a season that has been as stress and angst-free as this one should culminate in a trip to Ann Arbor that is filled with more uncertainty than any of us are likely comfortable with; nothing can ever just go smoothly when those weasley wolverines are involved!
So, as we head into the long holiday weekend, in this week’s fan survey, we want to know what you think will be the key for the Buckeyes to restore the natural balance of the football world and leave that state up north as the victors.
Then, in the second question, as it is game week, we want to get your insight into Saturday’s contest, so we want you to pick the winner and the margin of victory.
Check out the questions below, and then make sure to vote in the survey beneath the article. If none of the options included in the survey line up with what you want to pick, feel free to head down to the comments at the bottom of the page and write in your pick. Then, on Saturday morning, check back with LGHL to see the results.
Question 1: What is the most important key to Ohio State beating Michigan?
The news has certainly been encouraging when it comes to the health of wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but we don’t really know if either will play, and — perhaps more importantly — if they do play, how healthy they will be. But nonetheless, having one or both of those guys in the lineup dramatically impacts what the Ohio State offense can do, even if they aren’t 100%.
However, that isn’t the only thing that will help the Buckeyes win on Saturday. I could see Arvell Reese coming up with a big stop if Bryce Underwood looks to run for a key first down, or the defensive line holding Jordan Marshall to a season low, or Bo Jackson and the other backs having a breakout game.
Which of the options below do you think will be the key to the defending national champions leaving Ann Arbor victorious?
Question 2: What will the margin of victory be in Saturday’s game against Michigan?
When the FanDuel Sportsbook opened its betting for this game, Ohio State was installed as an 11.5-point favorite, but, as of the writing of this article, it has dipped a bit to -10.5. The gold standard college football analytics system, SP+, has it as a 31-17 game in favor of the Buckeyes, which would be a fairly solid cover.
So, while I will make my official pick and prediction on Saturday morning in the “Land-Grant Tailgate Podcast,” right now, I am inclined to go with something like 33-6, just because I think that Ryan Day and company will be extra motivated to assert their dominance for the first time in half a decade.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
