Sure seems like everyone's talking about Michigan-Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In NFL locker rooms, middle-school study halls and taverns across the country, everybody is talking about Saturday's showdown between No. 2 Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, for instance, favors a team not even playing in the game.

"Whatever is the best for Notre Dame, that's what I'm rooting for. Tell me what that is and that's what I'm rooting for," he said Tuesday.

Notre Dame, of course, needs help to make it to the BCS national championship game against whomever wins the Michigan-Ohio State game. The worst scenario for the Fighting Irish, who are ranked fifth in this week's BCS rankings, is if the game is a tight struggle decided in the final seconds. That would allow the loser to retain a shot at a rematch in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8.

So Weis is selling on margin, so to speak.

"Win by a hundred, sign me up," he said.

Troy Smith aims to hand Jim Tressel a third consecutive win over Michigan. (Getty Images)

Others also are hoping for a rout when Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith puts his Heisman Trophy candidacy on the line against the Wolverines' strong defense.

"Ain't no ifs, ands or buts about it. It's a blowout," said Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Perry, a Michigan grad. "(Defensive tackle Alan) Branch is going to knock the stuffing out of -- what's his name? -- Troy Smith. He shouldn't even win the Heisman. He's not going to win his league or the national championship."

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has won four of the last five meetings with Michigan's Lloyd Carr. Perry even has an explanation for that trend.

"We all know what's going to happen. We're going to win it. It's been long overdue. Tressel's been cheating," he said, laughing in the Bengals locker room. "Hey, we're going to keep it real. There ain't nothing else to say."

There was plenty to say in the Green Bay Packers' locker room.

Defensive back Charles Woodson is an Ohio native who went to Michigan, won the 1997 Heisman Trophy and led the Wolverines to the national championship that year. Linebacker A.J. Hawk played on Ohio State's 2002 national championship team, won the Lombardi Award last year and was taken in the first round of the draft by the Packers.

Woodson planned to place a wager on the game with the rookie.