Herbstreit says No Way Wolverines beat Buckeyes

It is really nice being a blogger sometimes because we don't have to worry if we let our team bias come out. We are just the regular fan trying to talk about the great sport of college football, and giving our perception of what we think is happening. So when we turn on the TV to hear some "real" analysis, we expect it to be insightful and non-biased. Well as we know that's not always the case. We have Lou Holtz who when he is not drooling on the set, he is drooling all over Charlie Weis and Notre Dame. Next we have Mark May and his love for his alma mater Pittsburgh. Over on ABC we have the two babbling fools of Craig James and Doug Flutie. James is still bitter about losing out on the National Championship in 1982 to Penn State that he takes jabs at them everytime we can. Craig, there is a reason SMU was given the death penalty a few years later, it is because the players were paid! And Flutie, I really liked him as a player but he can't stop talking about Boston College. They could be the best team in the ACC, but that is not saying much since they are the worst BCS conference right now. Although Game Day can get a little over advertised, I really like how they tried to stay balanced. Well that was until I read this article on the Detroit Free Press about how Herbstreit...I mean Kirk rips apart Michigan's chances against Ohio State. Let's go through some of his comments from his radio show on "The Big Show" on WBNS 1460 in Columbus On the Michigan defense

"I personally don't think their defense, the way Ohio State will spread them out, can just dominate the game and shut Ohio State down."

The Wolverine have one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten and Ohio State has shown to have some problems protecting Smith against quality teams. On Michigan not being able to score enough points to beat OSU

"The way they look right now, I don't think anybody can see that. "(Receiver) Mario Manningham coming back, one guy doesn't make a big difference in most cases, but the reason it does in Michigan's case is because it's like a domino effect. "If Manningham's able to come back and be the player that he was before the injury, (receiver Adrian) Arrington can go back to doing what he does, instead of being the go-to guy. "(Receiver Steve) Breaston can go back to whatever he's doing these days, if they could ever find a way to actually apply him in the offense. He's worthless in my mind, outside of returning a few punts. I'll say that, and he'll end up winning the game for them on Nov. 18. But he hasn't done anything since his freshman year."

Breaston worthless?? He is as good, if not a better returner than Ted Ginn Jr. And Michigan's offense is a completely different animal with Manningham in the lineup. Why do you think he is playing this week? To get back to game speed. On what would happen today if U-M and OSU met

"If those two teams were to play right now, just the way they're playing, I don't even think it would be close. Ohio State not only wins that game the way they're playing right now, maybe by a few scores."

Herbie you are out of your mind?? Have you seen Ohio State struggle stopping the run? Ohio State beat Texas, yes that win looks good right now but Texas is a much different team than they were in September. Don't forget that Garrett Wolfe ran for 170 yards against Ohio State in Columbus and Tony Hunt also went over the century mark in Columbus. Michael Hart will be the best running back Ohio State has seen this year and he runs behind the best offensive line in the country. If Michigan is able to use him to control the tempo and keep their defense off the field, it will not be as easy as you think. And don't think that the Buckeyes' are going to be able to run the ball on Michigan. The same Tony Hunt who ran for over 100 yards against the Buckeyes, only ran for 33 against Michigan. That Wolverine defensive line will not let Pittman run anywhere but backwards. On Michigan's fans not sticking around for last Saturday's game against Northwestern:

"If you're a Michigan fan, honestly, help me to understand, you have a team that is No. 2 in the country, you only get a chance to see them play at home six or seven times and you bail in the second quarter?"

I don't think you'd be saying this stuff if the game was in Ann Arbor this year and you and your Game Day crew had to be there to cover the game. All in all that's some pretty bold statements by Herbie. I for one can't wait for this game, but I already know ESPN is going to hype this game so much that we are all going to be sick of it. But at least we know where one of their analysts stands on it.