Saturday night at the Big House brings another round of Michigan State-Michigan, and the setup is as grim for the offenses as it is promising for the defenses. The Spartans are searching for a desperate upset, while the Wolverines enter as the favored side in a rivalry that has tilted their way for four straight seasons with the Paul Bunyan Trophy staying put.
Michigan won last year’s meeting 31-20, though the game was never really that close. The Spartans never had much of a shot, even with what the source described as officials seemingly having a helping hand for Michigan.
This time around, the record books don’t suggest a clean rebound for either side. Michigan State is winless in conference play and riding a six-game losing streak, while Michigan has dropped three of its five conference games.
The Wolverines do at least have a little stability at quarterback. Tommy Carr has made two straight starts and has played well in both of them, along with the second half three weeks ago when he came on in relief of Bryce Underwood. Carr helped Michigan beat Penn State and Rutgers, with the lone loss in that stretch coming by seven points against Indiana.
Even so, the offense hasn’t exactly sparked. Michigan’s 28-21 win over Rutgers last week looked better on the scoreboard than it did in context, since Rutgers had already been giving up at least 30 points to every other Big Ten opponent. Michigan didn’t even get to that number against what is arguably the worst team in the conference.
Michigan State had been showing signs of life before its UCLA game. The Spartans had lost their previous two by a combined four points, including a three-point loss at the buzzer to ranked Northwestern. But injuries have kept hitting them all season, and the situation got worse two weeks ago against UCLA when they were without their starting quarterback and running back.
The source also notes that Fitzgerald held those players out knowing the following week was a bye and that the biggest game on the Spartans’ schedule was coming immediately afterward: a matchup against the Wolverines.
Availability reports won’t be out until later today, but the prediction is already on the table. Vegas has Michigan as a 13.5-point favorite, and the matchup is framed as a test of courage for both teams.
Two new head coaches are still trying to build their cultures, and both offenses sit near the bottom of the Big Ten in scoring. The defenses, meanwhile, are the real attraction here, with both groups playing hard and fast and creating chaos in opposing backfields.
Michigan’s defense gets the edge in that department. The source calls it a notch above Michigan State’s and says it looks like a legitimate NFL-caliber unit. That same defense was also described as a major reason Bryce Underwood managed to pick up a few wins before being benched.
So under the lights at the Big House, the expectation is a physical, potentially unruly game, with the hope that any extracurricular activity stays between the whistles. The final call: Michigan State 20, Michigan 17.
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Izzo pointed to the challenge of having only two days to get ready, which is part of what makes this stretch worth watching early in the season. There is also the return of Jesse McCulloch to consider after he sat out the opener with a minor concussion, and his expected availability gives Michigan State another layer to sort through before a tougher opponent comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Will Test The One Weak Spot In Michigan's New QB
Tommy Carr will get another chance to settle in as Michigans starter when he takes the field for his third straight game against Michigan State, and the matchup arrives with plenty of eyes on how he handles the moment. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has already made the call on the quarterback job, and Carr has given the Wolverines enough to like in recent weeks, including Big Ten Freshman of the Week recognition.
The next step is less about raw talent than timing, especially on the deep throws where Carr and Whittingham have pointed to some cleanup work. Michigan State, meanwhile, is preparing for the rivalry with the kind of extra attention that usually comes with this game, as the staff works to make sure players understand what it means. That gives the Spartans a clear place to test a young quarterback who has looked promising, but not quite finished. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces An Early Test After That Opening Statement
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Toledo comes in with something to prove after a narrow loss to Arkansas State, and the Rockets have enough pieces to make this more than a routine follow-up. Mynor Strong and Jaylon Ouwinga are among the names Michigan State has to account for as the Spartans try to keep their early momentum intact. For a team with bigger goals, this is the kind of game that can quietly reveal whether the first win was just a strong start or the beginning of something more sustainable. [Read more 🡒]