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The stage is finally set for Michigan and Ohio State, and if their most recent work is any indication, points will be hard to come by next weekend at the Horseshoe.The Buckeyes edged Michigan State 17-16 on Saturday, and then the Wolverines had problems of their own in a 20-10 victory over Indiana. What enabled Ohio State and Michigan to persevere was their defenses -- specifically their ability to limit the passing game.Coming around this time in November, wins are hard to come by, Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley said. Well take any win that we can.The Buckeyes stayed at No. 2 in Sundays AP Top 25 , while the Wolverines moved up a spot to No. 3.For a while this season, it looked as if Ohio State and Michigan might both be undefeated heading into the regular-season finale Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Both teams ran into roadblocks, however. The Buckeyes lost at Penn State on Oct. 22, a defeat that could keep Ohio State out of the Big Ten title game even if it wins next weekend.Michigan, meanwhile, lost at Iowa on Nov. 12 and had to play backup quarterback John OKorn against Indiana because of an injury to Wilton Speight. The Wolverines (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) managed only 59 yards passing against the Hoosiers, and Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) had just 86 against Michigan State.So the defenses may be a step ahead in Saturdays matchup. Ohio State and Michigan are ranked 1-2 in the nation in passing efficiency defense, and Michigan is No. 1 in total defense and scoring defense.The Wolverines are led by Jabrill Peppers, who roams as a linebacker, drops back as a slot cornerback and blitzes from the line. He also gives the defense a vocal and demonstrative leader.Im kind of the energizer bunny, Peppers said after the win over Indiana.The Wolverines also have an outstanding cornerback tandem in Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling. They rotate eight players on a deep and talented defensive line, which makes a lot of big plays but has struggled at times to stop running backs and quarterbacks from running to the outside and up the sideline.That could be an issue against Ohio State running back Mike Weber and quarterback J.T. Barrett, both of whom rushed for over 100 yards against Michigan State.The Buckeyes, meanwhile, feature a secondary thats stellar in its own right, with cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley and safeties Malik Hooker and Damon Webb making it tough for opponents to throw. Ohio State has returned a school-record six interceptions for touchdowns this season.What hurt the Buckeyes against Michigan State were big plays. In the first minute of the game, they allowed a 64-yard touchdown to LJ Scott on a catch-and-run. Later in the first half, Scott broke free for a 61-yard run that set up a field goal.Come out next week playing kind of flat, giving up some runs like that, you obviously wont win like that, Ohio State defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis said. I give credit to Michigan State. Thats a very, very good team, very physical team. You just have to correct the little things.The Spartans also had some success on the ground late in the game, scoring a touchdown with 4:41 remaining on a run by Scott. But Michigan States 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Ohio State up by one, and when the Spartans got the ball back at the end, they were in their own territory and tried to pass. The result was a sack and an interception by Conley to seal the Buckeyes victory.A little while later, Michigan wrapped up its low-scoring, run-heavy game against Indiana on a blustery day with strong winds and snow. Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh sounded nostalgic.It felt like an old-fashioned slobberknocker, he said.Next weekends matchup might look and feel like one, too.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Cheap Nike Shoes From China .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Discount Nike Shoes China . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. http://www.cheapnikeshoes.net/ .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Cheap Discount Nike Shoes . LOUIS -- St. Discount Nike Shoes For Sale .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. ATLANTA -- Adam Frazier got the Pirates first rally going in the fifth inning with a 13-pitch at-bat. He finished off the Braves in the sixth with a two-run single.The 13-pitch at-bat was probably the longest weve had all season, manager Clint Hurdle said. I think hes got a very good internal clock for the game and hes very aggressive.Jung Ho Kang doubled home the tiebreaking run in a four-run sixth to lead Gerrit Cole and Pittsburgh past the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Tuesday night.Matt Kemp went 0 for 4 and ended the game with a strikeout in his Atlanta debut.Cole was coming off the first complete game of his career, a 10-1 win over Seattle last Wednesday. He wasnt as dominant this time, but didnt need to be against the major leagues worst offense.Cole (7-6) struck out four and allowed seven hits, two walks and two runs -- one earned -- in five innings. He threw 97 pitches, four more than he did in his complete game.He insisted the muggy conditions werent a factor in his early exit.No, I switched my jersey three times tonight, Cole said. Other than that, its the middle of summer. Its going to be hot.Tony Watson, in his first game as Pirates closer since Mark Melancons trade to Washington, earned his first save since April 22, 2015.Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz didnt allow a hit until the fifth, but he squandered a 1-0 lead after his 82 mph changeup hit Francisco Cervelli in the left side of the helmet. Frazier doubled on the 13th pitch he saw, and pinch-runner Jeff Fryer scored on Jordy Mercers RBI groundout.Matt Joyces RBI single in the sixth made it 2-all. Kang put the Pirates up 3-2 and chased Foltynewicz. Frazier singled off Jose Ramirez to give Pittssburgh a 5-2 lead.ddddddddddddFoltynewicz (4-5) allowed four hits, five runs, three walks and struck out four in 5 1/3 innings.That first couple of innings is probably the best Ive felt and the most confident Ive felt all year, he said. Its just that the last four or five outings have (had) one big inning thats hurt me. So if I can do a better job of controlling that, its going to be all right.The Braves led 2-1 in the fifth after Nick Markakis RBI single. They went up 1-0 in the fourth. A.J. Pierzynskis grounder stayed in the infield after it bounced off the arm of Frazier, the second baseman, but it was surprisingly scored an RBI double.Markakis cut the lead to 5-3 in the eighth with his sixth homer.Kemp left five runners on base. Felipe Rivero struck him out to strand runners in scoring position in the seventh. The Braves acquired Kemp in a trade with San Diego on Saturday.Freddie Freeman went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts and left six runners on.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Cervelli initially insisted he was fine after getting hit by Foltynewiczs pitch and went to first base after getting checked out by a trainer. He called timeout before Frazier, the next batter, took a pitch and Cervelli then left the game.Braves: RHP Julio Teheran was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. He was originally injured during a four-inning start July 22 at Colorado.UP NEXTPirates: LHP Jeff Locke (8-6) is 2-2 with a 4.89 ERA in seven career starts against Atlanta.Braves: RHP Rob Whalen will make his major league debut. ' ' '