COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer doesn’t seem to be having much fun this year but the season will likely be considered a success if the 10th-ranked Buckeyes can beat No. 4 Michigan on Saturday.
(10) Ohio St. (10-1, 7-1) vs. (4) Michigan (10-1, 8-0)
Ohio Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Sat., Nov. 24 (Noon/FOX)
The Ohio State coach weathered a preseason scandal that led to a three-game suspension.
He has had a flairup of the arachnoid cyst that causes severe headaches and has dealt with on-the-field breakdowns culminating in a shocking blowout by unranked Purdue.
Meanwhile, in Ann Arbor, signs point to a breakthrough for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan against Ohio State.
The Wolverines have lost six straight and 13 of the past 14 meetings with their rivals but are four-point road favorites this year.
The number-one reason is the Wolverines’ defense, best in college football, but Meter and Ohio State have been watching what Shea Patterson has done.
It sees a dual-threat quarterback who looks nothing like the players Jim Harbaugh had under center the previous three years.
The Wolverines are favored to win at least in part because of an offseason victory that allowed Patterson to play right away after he transferred from Ole Miss.