It's Michigan Week! Anyone?

A funny thing happened on the way to the greatest rivalry game in college sports - the wind was taken out of the sails of both teams and their fanbases. Yes, the excitement for the game and hatred for the other team is still there. But in reality fans are struggling a bit to find the kind of passion fitting the game's history and importance. One team will clinch and undisputed conference title and spot the Rose Bowl...so why does it feel like so much less?

*Ohio State is in severe hangover mode following a humiliating loss at home to Illinois. The young team played its worst game, with QB Todd Boeckman turning the ball over three times and the defense unable to stop the Illini running game. The Buckeyes were just two games away from a return to the national championship, and now those dreams have been dashed.

*Michigan fans have no idea what to expect from their two big stars, QB Chad Henne and RB Michael Hart. Henne has severe shoulder issues and hasn't really been himself all year. Hart has a high ankle sprain that has also hampered his production at various times. The injuries have tempered UM fans expectations, though there's a bit of gamesmanship going on. Michigan fans are acting like they have no chance and that the injuries are the reason why, while OSU fans assume they're going to get every possible drop of effort out of the big guns.

*The Lloyd Carr factor is now swirling over the game, with the possibility that this is his last contest. At 6-6 against OSU, this is the make-or-break game. Will it inspire or distract? A loss would significantly tarnish his legacy, having lost 6 of the final 7 games against the Buckeyes.

*Michigan fans will surely relish a victory against their rival and a Big Ten title, but the season has not been close to what they wanted. The loss to Appalachian State has tainted the whole year and there's no real recovering from the hopes of a national title to this. And while the win will propel them to the Rose Bowl, they may be in store for another embarrassing loss to a big name program on New Year's Day.

*For OSU, they must wonder if their NFL factory will rob them again an experienced team to compete for the national title in '08. This could easily be the #1 team in the country if everyone returns - or even if most of the player return. But DE Vernon Gholston is likely gone, and CB Malcolm Jenkins seems like a good bet to go as well. That leaves LB Jim Laurinaitis, who projects as a mid-to-low first round pick, along with a host of others like WR Brian Robiskie, OT Alex Boone, and even LB Marcus Freeman. It will be interesting to see who stays, and whether a young, talented team will always be inexperiened.

*The game now feels like a huge letdown compared to last year's epic showdown, with two undefeated teams ranked #1 and #2 vying for a spot in the national championship. And the atmosphere was super charged by the death of legendary Michigan coach and OSU alum Bo Schembechler.

*A few keys...How much can classless, big mouth Mike Hart give? Can ther OSU secondary cover Michigan's WR's? Will Tressel have a few wrinkles from the playbook to surprise Michigan? Who will be tentative and or conservative with their playcalling?