Michigan football picks vs Ohio State: Another stunner in The Game?

With so much at stake in this iteration of, simply, The Game between No. 15 Michigan football and No. 1 Ohio State — including, but not limited to a Big Ten title game berth and a potential College Football Playoff trip — it’s easy to forget what’s really at stake: Hate.

For just about as long as football has been a thing — even before touchdowns were what counted, or even before they counted for seven points — That Team Down South and That Team Up North have been at each other’s throats, proxies for the passions that flared up around the Toledo War and never quite got stamped down.

SCOUTING THE MATCHUP: Michigan football vs Ohio State game pick, score prediction

The Wolverines, with 1.021 victories, are college football’s winningest program — an edge they’ve maintained by 32 over OSU (889), entering action Saturday, Nov. 29 at Michigan Stadium — even as the Buckeyes are the most recent CFP champions. Soon enough, though, the Buckeyes will be the second college team to reach 1,000 wins — maybe even next year.

Will they get a headstart on the 11 wins needed, or will the maize-and-blue 11 make their claim on a CFP berth and, oh yeah, beat the scarlet-and-gray visitors for the fifth straight year, a streak unmatched by the Ann Arbor side of the border since 1922-27? Four Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on The Game:

Tony Garcia

No matter the talent gap this decade, Michigan has always found a way to come out on top, whether it's a run-fest (like in 2021), long plays (2022), timely plays (2023) or an absolute stunner (2024). In that regard, it's hard to pick Ohio State, but all the data points suggest OSU is the better team. The Buckeyes have more talent on the outside, a suffocating defense and a pent-up rage that can't be replicated. The weather will hurt what OSU wants to do, but even still the Buckeyes are the choice. The pick: Ohio State 24, U-M 16.

Carlos Monarrez

Remember last year’s flag planting by the Wolverines at Ohio Stadium? You’d better believe the top-ranked Buckeyes do, which means you can count on more postgame shenanigans when Ohio State pays back Michigan on the scoreboard and on the field with their own unnecessary postgame celebration. At least the Wolverines will be the first to score more than 16 points on the Bucks this season – so Sherrone Moore’s squad can count that as a moral victory. Now watch out for the pepper spray, boys! The pick: Ohio State 34, U-M 17

Jeff Seidel

I gotta believe Ryan Day learned his lesson from the 2024 game against Michigan. I gotta believe that Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will scheme up all kinds of looks that will befuddle freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. And I gotta believe that superior talent will win this game. Unlike last year. The pick: Ohio State 31, U-M 14.

Shawn Windsor

This used to be an easy game to pick: Pencil in the Buckeyes and move on. Not anymore, no matter how much Ohio State is favored. U-M has found a way. And yet, this year? U-M is a little too young, in the end. Ryan Day gets his revenge, and gets his fanbase off his back ... until the next time the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes. The pick: Ohio State 27, U-M 16.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football picks, predictions vs Ohio State in Week 14