Final thoughts before Ohio State plays Michigan Saturday afternoon

Ok. Here we go again. Ohio State vs. Michigan for the 121st time, and there are massive things at stake, like there almost always are when these two ancient rivals get together. The Buckeyes are looking to put a stop to a four-game losing streak, remain undefeated, and get into the Big Ten Championship game to have a shot at the conference title and No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines are hoping to extend the Scarlet and Gray misery to a fifth game in a row, and then hope for Washington to knock off Oregon up in Seattle to qualify for the Big Ten Championship game. A win over Ohio State would maybe be enough for Michigan to make the CFP. So yeah, there are some things on the line in this one.

As we get ready for The Game, we like to give you some final thoughts to ponder before it all kicks off. We might give you a little trivia, some things to ponder, and then just some things rattling around in our noggin that may or may not mean anything.

Here are some final thoughts ahead of Ohio State vs. Michigan on Saturday.

Ohio State vs. Michigan final thoughts

• I lived through the John Cooper years, and this part of the series rivalry feels a lot like those days. So, forgive me if I have some emotional and mental scars, no matter how lopsided this matchup seems to be.

• Speaking of which, will Ryan Day's attempt at treating this as routine as he can be is a shift from previous years? Will it work? It's bold, but the way things were working clearly weren't cutting it. This isn't the way Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer treated the game, but man, do we all hope it pays dividends.

• Also, I haven't seen Day act the way he has this year. He's calmer with a quiet confidence that Michigan Week doesn't usually present. I hope that's not just a projection but a real thing. I really believe Day loves this team and the mindset, and that's where it's coming from. At least, that's what I hope.

• For Ohio State to win this game, I'll feel a lot more confident if Batman and Robin are going to suit up and jump in the Batmobile. At least we know that both Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate have been practicing and made the trip to Ann Arbor. But how effective will they be if they play? That's the real question.

• Speaking of which -- there is absolutely NO WAY Ohio State falls into the trap of not using its advantages on the outside and in the passing game again, right? RIGHT? I hope the aggressive Ryan Day is let out of the cage on Saturday.

• And oh, the weather ... Do you know how many Michigan media members and fans I've run across that are giddy over the potential for some cold, wind, and snow flurries on Saturday? It's kind of weird, but I guess when you look for a great equalizer, asking for the weather gods to come through is something.

• Doesn't it feel like Ohio State's offense has been on cruise control the entire year? I guess you can do that when the defense the Buckeyes have steps off the bus every game. Does that mean Brian Hartline and Day have been saving some packages for Michigan? Wouldn't that be evil scientist material?

• And that pace of play that Ohio State has been using this year -- literally the slowest in the entire country. Wouldn't it be something if the Buckeyes now went with tempo out of the gate to throw a wrench into the whole thing for Michigan? Is that what Ryan Day means when he talks about stepping on the gas when the offense needs and using nitrous? I'm excited about those prospects.

• I've grown up with this rivalry with the ingredients of respect, yet an aversion for all things Maize and Blue. But after the last few years with the advanced sign stealing, lack of class on the field by players, coaches, and Michigan media members, I don't know that I've ever had more of a disdain for the opposite sideline than what I have now. I'm sure many of you feel the same.

• Is anyone else excited to see what Matt Patricia cooks up for a true freshman quarterback? That has to matter, right? Even more reason to believe that the Wolverines are going to use a heavy dose of the running game until they don't have to.

• This rivalry has a long history of unsung heroes. Who might that be this year? How about Lincoln Kienholz or any of the running backs? Brandon Inniss or Max Klare, maybe? All I hope is that it comes from the Ohio State sideline.

• Don't let Michigan fans fool you. The fact that Ohio State went on to win the national championship after last year's loss really does get their undies in a bunch. They'd love to pull the last program to win a national title card, but instead, the Buckeyes took care of that the very next year after the Wolverines won it.

• Also, there's always the Appalachian State card that Ohio State fans can play.

• Can Ohio State please, please, please win the special teams battle Saturday? That absolutely killed the Buckeyes last season. Well, that and turnovers and trying to run the ball straight into the strength of the Michigan defense last year.

• OK, let's have a great one Saturday, one in which the order of the college football universe is restored with an Ohio State win.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Michigan: Final thoughts before the game Saturday