Saturday, November 29th, the last Saturday of the college football regular season, and that means one thing: The Game. The Michigan Wolverines, currently ranked No. 15 with a 9-2 record, welcome the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) to the Big House.

The historic rivalry enters a new chapter with arguably the highest stakes in recent memory, as Ohio State seeks to snap a four-game losing streak against the Wolverines, and Michigan looks to cement a miraculous season under new full-time head coach Sherrone Moore and fight for a College Football Playoff berth. The atmosphere will be electric, the stakes monumental, and the tension palpable.

While most prognosticators have the dominant Buckeyes leaving Ann Arbor with a comfortable victory, a prediction backed by their stifling defense and explosive offense led by Heisman-contending QB Julian Sayin, the history of this rivalry proves that predictable is boring. This game is never truly settled until the final whistle.

Here are three bold predictions for the 121st edition of one of sport’s greatest rivalries:

1. Michigan’s Defense Forces Three Turnovers and Scores a Touchdown

Ohio State’s offense has been a picture of efficiency this season, with quarterback Julian Sayin posting a stellar 77% completion rate. However, the one constant in Michigan’s recent run of success in "The Game" has been their opportunistic defense. They thrive on causing havoc and capitalizing on the emotional pressure that this rivalry puts on the visiting team.

Michigan's defensive front, even without the disruptive forces of past seasons, will rely on the overwhelming crowd noise and the sheer weight of history to create chaos. We're not just predicting a turnover or two; we’re predicting three takeaways, with one being a defensive touchdown—a pick-six or a scoop-and-score. The Big House crowd will feed off a momentum-shifting defensive score, keeping the Wolverines in the fight long past when the talent disparity might suggest they should be out of it. This defensive unit knows what this game means, and they will scratch and claw their way to generating points when the offense inevitably struggles against Ohio State's elite front.

2. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood Outplays Julian Sayin in the Fourth Quarter

All eyes are on the battle of the quarterbacks, pitting the Buckeyes' Heisman contender, Julian Sayin, against Michigan's true freshman signal-caller, Bryce Underwood. Sayin is the consensus better player, but Underwood has steadily improved and had one of his best outings in the week leading up to this game.

Prediction: Sayin will be excellent for three quarters, but the mounting pressure to end the losing streak and secure a perfect season will weigh on the Buckeyes. Conversely, the young, 9-2 Wolverines have nothing to lose. When the game inevitably tightens in the fourth quarter, Bryce Underwood will manage the game and make more impactful plays, with his legs and his arm, than his decorated counterpart. His best play will come on a clutch, late-game drive that either ties the game or puts Michigan ahead for the first time since the first quarter, proving he is a true “Game” player.

3. The Game Goes to Overtime

This is the boldest prediction of all. Ohio State is a multi-score favorite, and Michigan has been fighting through injuries and offensive inconsistencies. However, the home-field advantage in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s recent dominance in the rivalry, and the sheer desperation of the Buckeyes combine to create an environment primed for a nail-biter.

The defensive touchdown, combined with a physical, time-consuming rushing attack from Michigan that keeps the Buckeyes' explosive offense on the sideline, will serve as the great equalizer. The fourth-quarter heroics of Bryce Underwood will culminate in a tying score in the final minutes. In a series that has been decided by a single score in each of the last two matchups, expect the ultimate pressure cooker: The Game will go to overtime. It will be a classic finish, proving once again that in this rivalry, rankings and records are merely suggestions.

Final Thought: Ohio State might ultimately leave Ann Arbor with the win they desperately crave, but it will be a 60-plus minute war, not the comfortable victory Vegas projects. The rivalry always delivers drama, and this Saturday at the Big House will be no exception.