Da BIGGEST Game

That's right, this Saturday is not the Big Game but the BIGGEST GAME: The Ohio State University vs. that funky old Michigan team. Being a born-in-Ohio Buckeye, this means a lot to me, along with, oh, the other however-many-more-million of us Buckeye Staters. Here are a few fast facts about this legendary series:

* First game: 1897

* Played every year since 1918

* Last regular season game for both teams since 1935

* Voted by ESPN in 2000 as the greatest North American sports rivalry

This year's game: at Michigan Stadium (107,501) with Ohio State ranked 7th nationally at 10-1 and Michigan ranked 23rd, at 8-3. At stake (besides, of course, PRIDE) is the Big 10 championship and a spot in the Rose Bowl/national playoff picture. (Check out this countdown-to-game-time clock as needed. And see the cool pic of former OSU coach Woody Hayes below, too.)

No predictions; just know that I'll be tailgating in my living room, ready to cheer on the Buckeyes, and ready to call my dear friend Dave W (even though he lives in MI) once the Buckeyes win.

Now, what does the OSU-Michigan game have to do with food and wine, you ask? It's a chance to poke fun at Michiganders! So here goes. You know you're from Michigan when:

* You only own three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup

* You go trick-or-treating for Halloween candy with your costume over your snowsuit

* You have 10 favorite recipes for venison

* You know which leaves make good toilet paper

* Your car trunk doubles as a freezer

* You actually understand what "hoagie", "chipped ham" and "pop" mean

* You learned how to read from Campbell's Alphabet soup

* You think Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is one of the best foods ever (because of a box of it only costs $.79)

Go Buckeyes!