A wise gambler once said:

Never let Sleeping Home Underdogs Lie.

Wake them for the upset.

 

 

And it's surprising how impactful, home underdogs have been in the history of "THE Game".

 

IMO, the UofM/OSU rivalry has 8 major eras:

Classic: (pre 1934)

UofM: 11 wins

OSU: 6 wins

OSU Rises: ('34-'42)

OSU: 5

UofM: 3

T: 1

UofM Era Ends: ('43-''50)

UofM: 6

OSU: 1

T: 1

Woody (pre BO): ('51-'68)

OSU: 12

UofM: 5

TenYearWar: ('69-'78)

UofM: 5

OSU: 4

T: 1 (1973!)

BO (post Woody): ('79-'89)

UofM; 6

OSU: 5

UofM dominance: ('90-'00)

UofM: 8

OSU: 2

T: 1

OSU Dominance:  Now.

OSU: 17

UofM: 2

 

Often the biggest games of each era, were defined by home underdogs*.

(*for this underdog defined by AP ranking only)

In the classic era, the two most important games were in 1926, when an 8-1 UofM visited an undefeated OSU, and in the first classic game of the series (all others had been a wins by 7 or more points), UofM narrowly beats the homedog 17-16. Next in 1931, a one loss OSU gets an early season upset in Ann Arbor versus an undefeated UofM.

As OSU was rising and becoming a top program, UofM wins a NC in '33 but slowly loses consistency leading to not being very good by the end of the 30's, but in 1939, the #6 Buckeyes would come to town and get upset by the homedogs of Michigan 21-14. OSU would stay prominent leading to their first NC in 1942, when UofM could not beat them in Columbus since they were homedogs.

The end of the UofM classic era, had another NC for Michigan and plenty of good seasons but also a homedog tie in 1941 and a homedog win in '45. And OSU stopped the bleeding with with a homedog tie in 1949.

Woody got a homedog upset his second year in 1952, and Bo returned the favor in his first year in 1969, and the 10 year war featured 4 other games that were either a homedog win or tie.

Harbaugh's guarantee game was at a homedog, but he got it done.

Even the 90's had 4 game's where the homedog won, and our win in 2003 was as a homegdog. Devin Gardner's 1 point loss was as a homedog, so close! And even Urban got a homedog win in his last year, (kick in the balls).

So, let the Underdog out!