Michigan State Preview 2016
#2 Michigan, 7-0, travels to East Lansing to meet Michigan State in a 12 noon kickoff on October 29. Michigan leads the series, 68-35-5, but the Spartans have won 7 of the last 8 meetings including three in a row. The last Wolverine win was eaked out a 12-10 victory in 2012 over the unranked Spartans in Ann Arbor. Michigan leads the series at East Lansing, 19-14-2 with a 17-11-2 record at Spartan Stadium. The two teams didn't truly begin playing a home and home series until 1958; the Paul Bunyan Trophy began in 1953 with Michigan ahead 35-26-2. Mark Dantonio is 7-2 against the Wolverines, the best winning percentage of any Spartan Coach in this rivalry (Duffy Daugherty was 10-7-2 from 1954-1972); there is no game that Coach Dantonio and the Spartan faithful want to win more than this one each year. Jim Harbaugh is 0-1 against Michigan State, and he broke his arm in the 1984 Spartan game.
On offense, the Spartans are led by Sophomore Running Back, L.J. Scott; he has scored 3 touchdowns and gained 464 yards so far this season. Scott is backed up by Flint Sophomore Gerald Holmes; he has 272 yards and 4 scores. Madre London is their 3rd back. Scott and Holmes will run behind a veteran offensive line led by Junior and Former Wrestler Brian Allen and 5th Year Senior Bennie McGowan at Right Guard and Center, Miguel Michado at Right Tackle, and Kodi Kieler at Left Tackle are also 5th Year Seniors. Redshirt Freshman Tyler Higby will be in his first rivalry at Left Guard, and David Beedle is questionable due to injury. 5th Year Senior and former wrestler, Prescott Line, will line up at H-Back. 5th Year Seniors, Josiah Price and Jamal Lyles, will play at Tight End. It is expected that Redshirt Freshman Brian Lewerke will start at quarterback; 5th Year Senior Tyler O'Connor may also see action and Junior Damion Terry is questionable due to hand injury. Senior R.J. Shelton, Freshman Donnie Corley and 5th Year Senior Monte Madaris are the wideouts. Shelton has 35 receptions and 4 TDs. The Spartans have no fear for the Wolverine defense, and will try to execute a game plan of pounding us into submission with their running game. They also do not fear our corners, Lewis and Stribling, and believe that Shelton, Corley and Madaris will outfight them when needed. Without a doubt, the Spartans have talent on offense. The big question this season for Michigan State has been their quarterback play, and it is unknown whether that will change in this game. If they are multi-dimensional, they could present problems, but if they are one-dimensional with only a running game, we should have a good chance to prevail. Many believe that MSU will be hard-pressed to score double digits against our defense.
The strength of the Spartan team is on defense where Dantonio excels as a coach. They are led this season by Junior SAM Linebacker, Chris Frey, who has 57 tackles and 6 quarterback hits with a forced fumble in 7 starts. Junior Strong Safety, Montae Nicholson, also has 57 tackles. Sophomore STAR Linebacker Andrew Dowell and Senior Free Safety Demetrius Cox have 45 tackles each. Junior Defensive End Malik McDowell has been a big force on the line, and could require a double team; he has 32 tackles with 1.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hits. 5th Year Senior MIKE Linebacker, Riley Bullough, missed a few games due to injury, but is back for this rivalry. Graduate Student Kevin Williams mans Defensive Tackle and Senior Nose Tackle Brandon Clemsons, a converted offensive guard, anchor the Spartan defensive line along with Junior Defensive End Demetrius Cooper. This group will be tough to run on as their opponents averaged 162 yards per game on the ground so Michigan will have their work cut out. Freshman Justin Layne, Sophomore Vayante Copeland, and Reshirt Freshman Josh Butler will see action at the cornerback positions. Sophomore Khari Willis will also see action at Safety as will Sophomore Tyson Smith at cornerback, but Sophomore Grayson Miller and Senior Darian Hicks are questionable with injuries. I would expect Darboh, Chesson and Butt to have big games with the youth and inexperience in the Spartan secondary. 5th Year Senior, Ed Davis, and Junior Shane Jones will see action at Linebacker.
On special teams, Senior Michael Geiger is the Spartan placekicker; he is 5 of 8 this season, and only 3 of 6 from the 40 or beyond. Sophomore Jake Hartbarger is their punter; he averages 40.7 per punt in 32 punts with 5 over 50 yards and 14 downed inside the 20. Their kickoff specialist, Kevin Cronin, is only averaging 60.3 yards per game. Sophomore Brandon Sowers also returns punts along with Shelton who is their kickoff return specialist. We potentially have a large advantage on special teams with Jabrill Peppers so hopefully we can use the advantage in this tilt. Let's also hope we can keep Jalen Watts-Jackson from scoring again, perhaps we should double-team him!
In listening to Mark Dantonio in his Pre-Game Press Conference and WJR Pre-Game Show, he is such a "straight-shooter," and a class act; he will have his team prepared for this one. Three of the Best NCAA Football Coaches are in the Big Ten East Division, and two of them will coach in this game. The way last year's game ended was such a huge disappointment for Michigan fans including myself; however, for Spartan fans, it is the Greatest Football Memory in the Rivalry, and will continue to inspire them for this game and many more to come. Mark Dantonio helped create a great football culture and program in East Lansing, and it has increased the intensity of this rivalry for both teams.
For Michigan State to win, they would have to establish a running game, and create Wolverines turnovers for possession time advantage. If they can keep Michigan under 20 points, they could have a chance to win. For Michigan to win, they have to do what they've done to their other opponents: control the football on offense while forcing the Spartans into punts and turnovers. I see a close game for a quarter or a half, but for Michigan to outexecute Michigan State on Offense, Defense as well as Special Teams. Still, if I were betting, I'd take MSU +24 points.
Michigan 27 Michigan State 10 (Halftime: Michigan 14 MSU 3)
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