Baver 18-6 ATS Picking Bucks Past Two Years. How Does He See OSU v Mich?

Colin: Where does this rank in the all-time OSU v Michigan match-ups?

Baver: The Ten Year War saw unbeaten, untied OSU & UM teams face each other in ‘70, ‘73, and ‘75. Then you had the #1 vs #2 match-up of unbeatens in 2006. Does it rank up there with those games? Ask me after we know the outcome of The Game tomorrow, LOL.

Colin: What is the best-case scenario for Ohio State in this game?

Baver: 1) Ideal weather conditions; 2) JT Barrett clicking with his WR’s and getting Ohio State’s vertical passing game in gear. 3) The OSU defense completely shutting down De’Veon Smith and Chris Evans; thus, leaving it up to O’Korn or Speight having to beat Ohio State, the nation’s leader in pass defense efficiency, through the air. 4) Mike Weber letting loose.

Colin: What is the worst-case scenario for the Buckeyes?

Baver: 1) The weather unexpectedly turning bad; 2) UM’s offense hitting the Bucks with several big plays, similar to the way Sparty did this past Saturday; 3) Jabrill Peppers having a Charles Woodson kind of game. 4) The turnover margin favoring Michigan to the tune of +2 or better. 

Colin: What is your best guess, realistic scenario for this game?

Baver: With expected mild November weather, I think the Buckeye offense will probably have more success against the vaunted UM defense than most are expecting. I think JT bounces back, and throws the ball much better tomorrow. And I think it will be tough sledding for a UM offense that will likely be missing Wilton Speight. But I think we’ll see a tight game headed into the 4th quarter. Then, I foresee Urban Meyer and this Buckeye team doing what they usually do in tight games….making big plays late and getting it done.

Colin: Which Wolverine should the Buckeyes fear?

Baver: Buckeye fans are probably sick of hearing this, but it’s Jabrill Peppers, far and away.  Is he Heisman-worthy? Probably not, but if Michigan is to break the Buckeye jinx, he will have a big part in the upset. I think he worries me most on punt returns, but he also has 16 tackles for losses on the season, which is pretty crazy.

Colin: Which Buckeye should SCuM fear?

Baver: JT Barrett. Everybody and their brother and sister, myself included, has commented about his inaccuracy this year, and I am guessing UM will underestimate him. As I mentioned, the weather conditions for Saturday look to be mild for late November, and my guess is that JT brings it tomorrow…with his legs and his arm. If he does, Michigan does not win this game.

Colin: What is your favorite Dead Schembechler song?

Baver: “Chad Henne”, without a doubt. Seems like yesterday, the entire crowd at the Newport sang the backup vocals on that one in November 2006. Can’t believe it’s been 10 years. “I Hate Michigan” comes in at #2. Classics. 

Colin: Will you be watching any other games this weekend? And give us an update on your picks.

Baver:  Not a good year outside of Buckeye games (18-19-1 overall), but I continue to have the pulse on the Buckeyes. I’m 8-3 on the season, 18-6 over the last two seasons, and 26-12-1 picking OSU games against the spread over the last three seasons. I have spent the whole week obsessing about The Game and haven’t dove into Vegas spreads yet on any other game. I’d probably stay away from betting this one, but having to make a call, I’ll take the Bucks laying the 6 ½. Urban lives for big games and I stopped doubting him in marquee matchups after the Bama upset in the 2014 Playoff. The call: Ohio State 27 Michigan 17.  

Michigan Week: Baver Answers Colin's Questions b/w Dead Schembechlers "Harbaugh to Hell"

Colin: Ok, the MSU game was a major disappointment and a bit of a mystery for many reasons. Before asking a question about that, I must say that once again Buckeye Nation has disappointed me with their reaction to a 3 point loss to an excellent team. All the whining and finger pointing just make us look like the losers we might be. I realize it wasn't very wise for Zeke to throw the play calling under the bus in his post game rant, BUT, if you listen to it all you realize two things 1) He was hurting because he wasn't given the chance to help his team win. A completely natural reaction considering his track record in the 2nd half of our biggest games and 2) When he spoke to the team about leaving to go pro in the locker room, he was trying to rally the troops that their time together was limited. We need to play hard now. He wasn't trying to downplay the Michigan game, quite the opposite. It was a call to arms for all the guys who may be leaving. Zeke is a heck of a nice kid and an even better football player. He is ALL heart. If Buckeye fans can't handle a little dust up and get his back after all he has done for this football program, they don't deserve players the quality of E. E.  Your take?

Baver: I can’t ever remember a Buckeye player calling out his coaching staff after a loss. And I can’t remember a player announcing prior to the Michigan game that he won’t be back for his senior year. I think Zeke made his own bed and had to lie in it. But it’s time to move on; and you’re right, Zeke’s a good kid. He apologized and he’s certainly handled himself better than I did at his age. 

Colin: Let's start with the question the media were too big of pussies to ask Urban in the post game presser: How does your bellcow running back only get 2 touches in the 2nd half? Urban did answer some questions though including that Zeke was healthy and it was tough conditions to throw.... It doesn't add up. What the hell? 

Baver: If he was healthy, running Zeke only twice in the 2nd half was despicable. And “why?” is the million-dollar question. Even without taking many risks, Beck and company could have mixed it up much better than they did. God, was that painful to watch.

Colin: Joshua Perry said that if this team can't respond to one loss after all the winning they have enjoyed then we are a "phony team". This team has been coasting all year. Can they take it up a notch and win this war in Ann Arbor? Do you think playing on the road may actually help us?

Baver: Playing on the road helping Ohio St actually makes some sense. The booing of the play calling in the ‘Shoe couldn’t be more demoralizing. Josh Perry gets it, but do the other OSU players? Another million-dollar question, and I don’t know the answer. I do think you have some players that are still devastated from the MSU loss. This Ohio St team needs a fast start for once to pick these guys up.

Colin: Last year at this time, we were lighting up scoreboards and our defense was only asked to hold teams under 30 points. It suddenly seems quite the opposite. Can these Silver Bullets win this game all by themselves?

Baver: Could happen. The play of the Buckeye defense will dictate how much the OSU offense will open up the playbook. It may drive Buckeye fans crazy, but I don’t think I would take too many chances with the offense if the Buckeye D is holding Michigan’s offense in check.

Colin: We will ever see another winning run like this by the Ohio State Buckeyes in our lifetime? It's one of the great runs in the history of college football. Do you feel like Ohio State fans appreciate what they have had the pleasure of watching? 

Baver: As long as Urban’s here, the Bucks are going to be winning 10+ gms almost every year. And with four 20+ game winning streaks under his belt, there is little reason to doubt Urban can do it again. But, no….I don’t think most Buckeye fans appreciate the last decade and a half like they should. I have a friend who often says, ”We could have been born Purdue fans.” That line always puts things into perspective for me.

Colin: Can Penn State finally suck it up and knock off Sparty?

Baver: Most Buckeye fans think not, but it’s certainly possible. While Sparty has played their best ball against ranked teams, they’ve struggled against the unranked ones. And Connor Cook is another game time decision. Yeah, they did beat Ohio St without Cook, but the Buckeye defense was out of gas when the Sparty offense finally got in gear. This one might be more interesting than most think.

Colin: Give us an update on your picks to date and other games and lines you will be keeping an eye on this weekend?

Baver: 21-11-1 against the spread, including 9-2 ATS picking Buckeye games. Very tough call on the OSU-UM game and one to stay away from I think, if you are a bettor. I leaned Michigan at one point in the week, but Urban always makes me look silly when I predict a Buckeye loss. I think OSU wins a tight one...gonna go with 24-21 Ohio St. I think you have to like the Nits getting 11 in East Lansing. Big letdown spot for Sparty & they are 2-7 ATS as a favorite this year. And I think the Bedlam spread has climbed too high with the Sooners laying 7. I like Okie State and the points.

The legendary DEAD SCHEMBECHLERS, who this year celebrate their 25th anniversary of skewering MICHIGAN WOLVERINE football in favor of their beloved OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, will release their latest opus, "HARBAUGH TO HELL" on Halloween 2015. The cut can be purchased via iTUNES from the their own FLAMING WOLVERINE DEATH RECORDS.

Dead Schembechlers "I'm So Bored With the SEC" is Your Song For the Day. Watch Here!

I'm So Bored With The SEC      (Live clip below)   Listen on I-Tunes Here

THE SOUTH IS OH SO PRETTY
THE WAY THE COTTON GROWS
BUT YOU WOULD TAKE A BEATING
HERE IN MIDWESTERN SNOW
OUR TEAMS LOVE THE WINTER
WE ARE REAL MEN
PLAYING SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL
WE CALL IT THE BIG TEN

I'M SO BORED WITH THE SEC
I'M SO BORED WITH THE SEC
I SPIT IN YOUR GRITS WHEN I'M IN DIXIE
THE SEC
THE SEC
THE SEC

YOUR STUDENTS ARE ILLITERATE
CHEERLEADERS ARE HAGS
REFEREES SO CROOKED
THEIR STRIPES SHOULD BE ZIG ZAGS

YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKIN' RUBBISH
BUT ONE THING YOU CAN'T IGNORE
YOU MIGHT WIN THE BCS
BUT YOU LOST THE CIVIL WAR

I'M SO BORED WITH THE SEC
I'M SO BORED WITH THE SEC
WE SENT GENERAL SHERMAN 
ATLANTA'S STILL BURNIN' 

The Dead Schembechlers perform "I'm So Bored With the S.E.C." during their 200H8 Reunion Show at the House of Crave in Columbus, OH. Nov 21st, 2008

Dead Schembechlers Tickets Going Fast, Click Here For Tickets Or Risk Being a Shutout of the Hate Michigan Rally (loser)

Jeff Hassler may not approve of their language but I can tell you that I have seen these guys live a number of times and there is no place on Earth better to be the night before the OSU v Michigan game. In fact, if you consider yourself a Buckeye Football fan and haven't seen the Dead Schembechlers play, then you really aren't a very big Buckeye football fan. 

Be warned, the show isn't for the faint of heart and unless you want your kid's ears ringing w F- Bombs and hair matted with Wolverine blood, this is a 21 and up show. Ace of Cups Friday November 28th. Doors 6pm, show at 8pm sharp.  Tickets WILL SELLOUT IN ADVANCE so I wouldn't waste time messing around. @baverbuckeyebag

Click Here For Dead Schembechlers Tickets!!

Baver's College Football Picks, Dead Schembechlers Rumors and Colin's Questions.

--- So give those gambling types an update on your picks to date and who you like this week?

I’m 11-7 against the spread with your Q&A picks, hitting 9 of the last 12, and I’m 4-0-1 on the Ohio State picks (which sometimes double as my favorite picks in your Q&A here).  I will go with the Buckeyes, again.  As I mentioned in the Buckeye Bag, I don’t think any Big Ten defense outside of Michigan State can stop this Buckeye offense right now, and I think Urban will want to impress the playoff committee; I like the Bucks laying the 19.5.  Next, I will go against the Noles again; both top 25 opponents they played this year hung tight and I think Notre Dame will as well.  Take the Domers +12.  And I like Oklahoma State getting 9 against TCU.  I can’t see how TCU is in the right mindset after the colossal collapse in the last 10 minutes of last week’s Baylor game.  And this is a well coached OSU Lite team; Gundy is 63-39-4 against the spread since the start of the 2006 season – that’s sick. 

---- Storm clouds are gathering over Tallahassee. Last Sunday the New York Times reported the Feds are investigating the local police for covering up FSU student athlete sexual assaults and this week turns out Jameis Winston signed a bunch of swag for the same guy who paid Gurley. The smoke is getting pretty thick, does a fire break out and ruin Winston's season?

Winston’s rant while standing on a table in the student union, making derogatory statements toward women, was incredibly stupid.  But last I checked, there is no law against being stupid and against free speech.  Yet, he was still suspended for a game.  There have been no rape charges filed against him and there is no concrete evidence that he accepted money for autographs.  You have the grocery store theft that happened during baseball season, in which he took a three-game suspension from the ‘Nole baseball coach.  But based on the evidence in the rape and autograph cases, or lack of which, I don’t know how you suspend him again.  If more evidence comes to light, that obviously changes things.  And don’t get me wrong…the guy is scum of the earth. 

--- Who is still alive for the four team playoff?

You have 12 teams battling for four spots, and Ohio State and Sparty are definitely two of them.  The others (in no particular order) are: Florida St, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miss St, Georgia, Oklahoma, Baylor, Oregon and Notre Dame.  I’d be surprised if a team outside of that pool gets in.  Most of the teams in that pool will have two or more losses by the end of conference championship Saturday, and there is a distinct possibility that the winner of the OSU-Sparty game will have only one loss.  We shall see…. it’s wide open and I would bet money that a one-loss OSU or Sparty team gets in.  I wouldn’t have said that a few weeks ago.

---- With all the attention on the blowtorch focused squarely on Brady Hoke's ass, how warm in Bo Pelini's seat these days?

Let’s wait to see what the Huskers do against Northwestern Saturday.  I have a feeling NW may beat them which will firmly put Pelini on the hot seat.

---- Just when it seemed Michigan's season couldn't get worse, it looks like the Dead Schembechlers might be performing this year. This is an ominous sign for Brady Hoke as this usually means a coach is about to get fired (or die). 

I was stubborn…it took me awhile to get on the “Hoke is gone” bandwagon, but I’m on it now.  Hoke needs to pull a small miracle to keep his job.  I think the Shane Morris concussion thing was blown out of proportion, but the bad press is what it is….it’s certainly adding to the other things that will cost Hoke his job, i.e. his atrocious W-L record, UM’s drastically falling attendance numbers, the current donut shortage in Ann Arbor, etc.

"You Lost to Appalachian State" - Dead Schembechlers (Live Footage)

I THINK EVEN JOHHNY RAMONE WOULD AGREE THAT THIS IS THE FINEST PUNK ROCK SONG EVER WRITTEN ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE.

Click here to purchase the studio version or enjoy the live footage below. 

Will the Dead Schembechlers perform this year? Click here to visit Dead Schembechlers.com

The Dead Schembechlers perform "You Lost To Appalachian State" during their 200H8 Reunion Show at the House of Crave in Columbus, OH. Nov 21st, 2008 *Update: 11-20-09* Hey, this video was recently used in an article on AnnArbor.com in regards to the schembechlers canceling their 2009 shows.