Michigan @ Ohio State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2009 ) Ohio State 21, Michigan 10

Anyone who derives joy from watching football teams make big plays should be interested in the latest renewal of the rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan. Both teams are loaded with big-play potential, meaning Saturday’s game at The Horseshoe could be more compelling than usual.

Michigan (7-4, 3-4 Big Ten) is bowl eligible for the first time in the three-year tenure of coach Rich Rodriguez. No. 8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) is one victory away from nabbing a piece of the conference championship for the sixth consecutive season.

Ohio State leads the series 57-43-6, including last year’s 21-10 victory. The Buckeyes have won the last five meetings, and eight of the last nine. Michigan hasn’t won in Columbus, the site of Saturday’s game, since 2000.

Both teams are led by big-play quarterbacks. Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor needs 67 yards to become Ohio State’s career rushing leader among quarterbacks. Pryor, one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, has thrown for 2,331 yards this year, the second consecutive season he has surpassed 2,000 yards. Pryor leads an offense that averages 39.6 points. The Buckeyes are 15-1 when Pryor scores a rushing touchdown, and 26-1 when he throws for a score.

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson set a single-season NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He gained 121 yards against Wisconsin last week, and has rushed for 1,538 yards. He’s also scored 14 rushing touchdowns, and thrown for 2,229 yards and 16 scores. Robinson’s second half of the season has been less dramatic, as the constant pounding and innovative defensive schemes have slowed him somewhat. But the Wolverines are averaging 36.8 points under Robinson’s direction.

In addition to the quarterbacks, each team has other dangerous weapons in its arsenal.

Ohio State has a stellar ground game in Daniel “Boom” Herron, who leads the team with 893 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s scored in 10 consecutive games and needs 68 yards to reach 2,000 for his career. Dane Sanzenbacher has 49 catches for 818 yards and nine touchdowns, and DeVier Posey has 45 catches for 696 yards and five touchdowns.

Michigan answers with receiver Roy Roundtree, who has four games with 100 or more receiving yards. Roundtree has 58 catches and six touchdowns and Darryl Stonum, expected back from an ankle injury, has 35 receptions and four touchdowns. Stonum is also a threat as a kick returner.

With Wisconsin most likely headed to the Rose Bowl (the Badgers handed Ohio State its only loss), the Buckeyes are likely bound for the Orange Bowl for a game with the ACC Champion. Michigan appears slated for a game against Missouri in the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 at Tempe, Ariz.