Win over Ohio State won't save Wolverines

There's plenty at stake for Michigan heading into its annual clash with Ohio State.

A bowl bid is at stake. Michigan (5-6) needs this victory to become bowl-eligible for the first time during the tumultuous, two-year stint of head coach Rich Rodriguez. The Wolverines finished 3-9 last season and were not even close to going bowling.

It would mean important practice days for a young team that can use every minute of practice time it can get. It also would benefit a team that has been splintered during certain points of the season. There's nothing wrong with a little male bonding.

This could give Rodriguez a little piece of mind and give him something to build on for next season. It's obvious that the losing and criticism is bothering him because neither Michigan nor Rodriguez is used to losing.

This would halt Ohio State's longest winning streak against Michigan at five. Ohio State has averaged 32.0 points a game during this streak. And last season's 42-7 victory over Michigan in Columbus was Ohio State's most lopsided victory since Woody Hayes ran up a 50-14 victory over Michigan in 1968.

And you always want to beat your rivals. Since Rodriguez came to Michigan, U-M is just 1-4 against its blood rivals, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State.

"I grew up a Michigan fan," Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier said. "I never liked Ohio State, so I am going to do what I can do and hopefully we can come out with a victory and go to a bowl game. Our guys are hungry. We are going to come out fired up and try to come out with a win."

U-M no match in Big Ten

Here's what won't change even if Michigan beats Ohio State. U-M will remain a bad football team.

Michigan's five victories have come against opponents who are a combined 18-33. Notre Dame (6-4) is the only opponent with a winning record and it took a touchdown pass in the final 0:11 to win that game. If you toss out the win against Division I-AA Delaware State, Michigan is just 4-6 and has been outscored by opponents, 303 -281.

On the surface the scoring deferential is not too bad. But two of those wins were lopsided victories over Mid-American Conference also-rans Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. Michigan measures itself by what it does in the Big Ten.

In conference play they are 1-6 and have given up an average of 30.7 points.

Michigan also used to pride itself in wearing people down. But in its last four losses to Penn State, Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin, it's been outscored, 99-19, in the second half and outgained, 1,122 yards to 598.

"We are all at fault," Forcier. "You can't pinpoint it on one thing."

The bottom line is Michigan is not good enough to beat Ohio State when Ohio State is on its game. However, Michigan has two advantages. It's playing at home and it's playing a team that already has had its big celebration.

Talk won't beat Buckeyes

Ohio State (9-2) clinched a spot in the Rose Bowl with a 27-24 overtime victory over Iowa. It cannot play for a national championship. Its fate is sealed. There's really nothing for it to play for except the satisfaction of preventing Michigan from bowling a second straight season.

Every week, Michigan players talk about how the following week will be different. So far, it has not. Michigan hasn't given anybody reason to believe it can hang with Ohio State for 60 minutes.

"O-State, we are coming," Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham said. "We did not think this (season) would happen. It's a long season but it just happened like this. And what would be a better way than to go out and beat O-State in that last game?"

That's cute talk. But talk is all it is.

terry.foster@detnews.com">terry.foster@detnews.com (313) 222-1494