In what has always been a rivalry game most OSU fans look forward to every year, may not be the case this season,as OSU is having its worst season since head coach John Cooper's first season (4-6-1) in Columbus in 1988, while the Wolverines are enjoying another fine season. With a victory, of which they are heavily favored to win, the Wolves should earn an attractive B.C.S. bowl bid. This season started out looking like another run at a second national championship in the late 1990's for Michigan, but two straight losses in October to Michigan State on the road and to an improving Illinois team at home (Illini beat Mich. and OSU on the road this year for the first time in school history) dashed their Big Ten and national title hopes.

The Leaders on Offense for UM Are:

1. QB Tom Brady - The signal-caller who gets the majority of the playing time in UM's two-QB system. He is a good one, far and away, much better than his backup Drew Henson. Henson's explosive speed and athletic ability (he is an outfielder and third baseman in the Yankee farm system) is the reason he is able to get playing time. Brady has had some huge games against some of the best competition in the Big ten over the past two seasons (375 yards passing at OSU in 1998; 391 yards at MSU this season; he ran for one TD and passed for another in the last four minutes of the PSU game, rallying from a 27-17 deficit to give Michigan an absolutely thrilling win at Penn State in possibly the best game of the year in college football).

2. TB Anthony Thomas - has run for over 1,000 yards this year, including 127 yards on 34 carries against a tough PSU defense. His two yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his 35th rushing TD of his career, good for second place on the all-time list behind record-holder Tyrone Wheatly (47).

LB Ian Gold, and DB's Tommy Hendricks and DiAllo Johnson lead a defense that is stingy against the run (Penn State was held to seven yards rushing on 20 carries and UM sacked Lion QB Kevin Thompson twice along with knocking him out of the game with an injury twice). As a defense and as a team combined, the Wolverines are giving up 19.6 points a game.

UM Head Coach Lloyd Carr, with the win at Happy Valley, last Saturday, is now 10-1 vs. Top 10 teams as Michigan coach.

Prediction: As any OSU fan can read, the Buckeyes have their work cut out for them. Combine UM's desire to get revenge on Ohio State from last year's big loss (31-16), the fact that OSU is not playing well in all aspects of the game (QB Steve Bellasari is completing only approximagely 46% of his passes and P/PK Dan Stultz is punting for only a 33 yard ave. on his last 15 punds), and a loud Michigan Stadium crowd-all add up to a long, night-marish day for everyone enthusiasticly involved in Ohio State Football. Throw out the records and anything can happen. UM rolls big over OSU 41-7, thus knocking Ohio State out of a bowl game with a 6-6 record for the first time since 1988.