The set-up: The 2016 meeting of Michigan and Ohio State marks the 113th of this legendary series. No matter what the records are, the annual border battle is intense for the players and fans. Bragging rights are a big deal, particularly in Ohio. This game means everything to the players. However, this year's meeting has more than just bragging rights at stake. This will mark the 11th time in series history, and the first since the two teams met as the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams back in 2006, that both are in the top-5. Second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) and No. 3 Michigan (10-1, 7-1) square off in Columbus and if Michigan wins, the Wolverines are headed to the Big Ten championship game. If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes will need Penn State to lose at home to Michigan State, in order to play in that championship game. However, since Ohio State is currently No. 2 in the CFP rankings, it seems unlikely that with a win over Michigan, Ohio State would be any real danger not not being one of CFB's "Final 4."

Michigan: The big question surrounding this game is a murky QB situation for Michigan. Starter Wilton Speight missed the 20-10 win against Indiana last Saturday with a shoulder injury and John O'Korn (who replaced him) have split the first-team reps in practice this week. O'Korn made 16 starts with Houston before transferring to Ann Arbor after his sophomore season but struggled mightily in his first career start for Michigan last weekend, finishing 7-of-16 for 59 yards, which was the lowest passing output by a Michigan QB since 2001. However, Speight wasn't all that much better the week before in Michigan's 14-13 loss at Iowa, completing 11 of 26 for 107 yards without a TD and one INT. Michigan averages 235.3 YPG (19th) on the ground, with four players gaining 400-plus yards, led by De'Veon Smith (750 yards on 5.2 YPC with 10 TDs), who was named the Big Ten's co-offensive Player of the Week after racking up a career-high 158 yards to go along with two TDs on Senior Day against Indiana. There are plenty of question marks offensively but we can be sure Harbaugh's defense will show up, as the Wolverines rank 1st in points allowed ((10.9 per) and 1st in total defense (245.6 YPG).

Ohio State: Head coach Urban Meyer declared after last Saturday's narrow 17-16 escape at Michigan State, "It's officially rivalry week. Our eyes are forward. Let's go." Ohio State is led by J.T. Barrett at QB, who has passed for 2,304 yards (63.4% completions with 24 TDs and 4 INTs) and run for 722 yards (4.4 YPC and 8 TDs). Ohio State runs for 263.1 YPG (98th) and is fifth in the nation in points scored (43.8 PPG). Mike Weber ran for 111 yards in the 17-16 win against Michigan State to become the third freshman in program history to rush for 1,000 yards (1,046 on 6.3 YPC with 8 TDs). No one tops Michigan's D this year but Ohio State comes close, allowing 13.0 PPG (4th) on 283.8 YPG (5th).

The pick: Ohio State has dominated the series in recent years, winning 11 of the last 12 meetings. The only Michigan victory in that span came in 2011 after Jim Tressel resigned as Ohio State coach in the wake of a scandal and Luke Fickell took over for one year before Meyer arrived. In Harbaugh's first year in 2015, the Wolverines didn't fare so well, losing 42-13 at home to the Buckeyes. However, Harbaugh's arrival has definitely injected some extra pizazz into the game. It's expected that the Meyer-Harbaugh coaching matchup is reminiscent of the Woody Hayes-Bo Schembechler era when the series was in its heyday in the 1970s. Just can't pass up this many points with the nation's No.1 defense Michigan is an 8* play.