UM at MSU Preview

A. Isaac Senior Editor

New Helmet 2 UM at MSU Preview

MSU 5-4 (1-4)
UM 7-2 (5-0)

100th game between these two schools

All Time Series 28-66-5

-Of the first 50 times these two schools played, only 6 were played in EL

-UM has won the last five games

-From 1950-1969, MSU dominated this rivalry going 14-5-1 including 9 wins in Ann Arbor and 3 national championships.

-From 1970 to the present, MSU only has 8 wins

-This will only be the 31st home game for MSU in this series

Links

More than a game: 100 years of the MSU/UM Rivalry

Spartans desperate to catch Wolverines on Saturday

Running to Glory

Prediction

There is a strong possibility that Chad Henne will not play or be extremely limited in this game by all accounts. If thats the case, MSU will have a much better chance of winning this game. Ryan Mallett has not really faced a road atmosphere like what he will see on Saturday afternoon.

But all that may not matter if MSU cannot stop the run. Considering the success other teams have had against MSU in the rushing department, its not a good bet to make that they will stop Hart, Brown, or Minor.

MSU will more than likely stack the box and make Mallett beat them through the air. Its a risk but a risk Mark Dantonio will have to take if he wants to win this game.

On the other side of the ball, MSU will have a tough time running against Michigan’s defense. This is one of those times where you almost wish Drew Stanton and John L Smith’s spread offense was still around. The power running game of State does not factor well against this defense.

Again, it looks like it will be on Brian Hoyer to make plays and probably make them early and often. His inability to throw to anybody else not named Devin Thomas is becoming a problem. He will need to go through his reads and consider throwing to freshman Mark Dell and TE Kellen Davis. Ringer may also play a factor in the receiving game out of the backfield.

I want to pick MSU to win but I am just not feeling it. Had they beat Iowa, I would have had more hope but it just seems there is something missing with this team. Good enough to lose by a possession is not what Spartan fans were looking for this year.

Closer game than people think.

Green and White-17
Piss and Blue-21

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