Rich Eisen shares confidence in Michigan ahead of The Game on Saturday

Rich Eisen has had his chest puffed out for four years now, and he's not about to stop now, even with the outcome of this year's iteration of The Game being uncertain.

The famed Michigan alum continues to be outspoken about the rivalry with the Buckeyes, with the Wolverines having won four straight games. And, as usual, just about no one is giving Michigan football a shot to beat Ohio State.

But a caller into his show, Kory, asked if the maize and blue have a shot, and Eisen responded with reason.

"Of course, we have a shot," Eisen said. "Last year, we had a walk-on in their house. We had one of the least equipped teams in the recent years to actually go into The Horseshoe and beat a team that was eventually national championship worthy and winning them all.

"And don't forget, TreVeyon Henderson, who's running all over everyone for New England, and Quinshon Judkins, who's running all over everyone for Cleveland, and they're running a ball. Get out of here.

"Caleb Downs, who's going to be maybe one of the -- I think Caleb Downs -- and we're talking about next year's draft -- well, I think he's the safest draft choice. Like, he's going to be a future Pro Bowler when you choose him out of anybody that's available in next year's draft. And Jeremiah Smith, at some point, is coming out. And I mean they're chock full of stars. They should go into The Big House, right? Finally end this streak. Right, Kory? You know what I mean?"

One of the things that Eisen likes is that a worse Michigan team than this won last year. Yes, Ohio State is improved, but its coach, Ryan Day, hasn't shown the proclivity to find a way to beat the Wolverines since 2019.

"This team's better than last year, and they just played their best game of the year against Maryland," Eisen said. "Gotta put some points up. Well, here's the thing, Kory. Is Ryan Day going to show up, saying he's tough, and he wants to out-tough Michigan and beat us on the ground? I hope Chip Kelly, if he's free now, is going to go to Columbus and tell him, let's run it back from last year. Let's try it this time around, you know? Because Grant and Mason Graham aren't there. I think last year's plan is better. And Patricia with his pencil? I see him, Matt. I know you and I have been friends over the years. And he was, by the way, the first coach in the NFL to stroll into the booth at the combine and drop a check off for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I love Matt Patricia, except Saturday. He knows it."

There's more to the exchange, but that's the gist of it. Either way, Michigan and Ohio State will settle it on the field at 12:14 p.m. EST in Ann Arbor with the game broadcast on Fox.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Rich Eisen: Why Michigan still has a real shot to beat Ohio State