The greatest week of the football season for Michigan State fans is finally here once again. "Little Brother" finally gets another chance to assert his dominance. For the first time in 3 years, the Spartans will be traveling to Ann Arbor to take on the team from Ann Arbor. Despite being ranked higher, the 7th ranked Spartans are the 7.5 underdog. This is another example that preseason rankings are very pointless because at this point MSU has had injuries and close calls, while Michigan has shutout their last 3 opponents. This will be the first game vs Michigan State for "college football god" Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh has to overcome the curse that has fallen on Michigan coaches in their debuts against the Spartans. The last 6 head coaches lost their debut games against the Spartans. Without further ado, here is the game breakdown.
QB: Connor Cook is 29-3 as a starter and has a tendency to show up huge in big games. The Spartans will need him to show up big time to counter the Michigan front 7 shutting the run game down. On the other side, Jake Rudock has 8 turnovers but has became an effective game manager for the Wolverines. EDGE: MSU
RB: The Spartans have had three previously unproven RBs take the bulk of the carries this year, with redshirt freshman Gerald Holmes and true freshman Madre London and LJ Scott. With health concerns for London and Scott, expect Delton Williams to have to contribute this week too. Michigan has had a relatively easy time running the ball this season with a speed/power combo of De'Veon Smith and Ty Isaac. EDGE: UM
WR/TE: Michigan State's Aaron Burbridge is coming off of a career game against Rutgers, and has put up solid numbers all year. The Spartans expect to get Josiah Price back, who when healthy has a 5 game TD streak with Connor Cook. Also, Macgarret Kings Jr. and RJ Shelton can provide speed on the edge for the Spartans. The Wolverines have Amarah Darboh and Jake Butt as consistent recievers but I just see Rudock's throwing struggles giving MSU the edge. EDGE: MSU
OL: The Spartans have a better OL, but the injury bug has been brutal. EVEN
DEFENSE: The Spartans have had a top 10 defense the past 3 seasons, but right now with a lot of secondary injuries, there is a lot of pressure on Shilique Calhoun and the front 7 to get home early and often against Rudock to slow down the Wolverine passing attack. Michigan has the top 10 defense this year, allowing only 181.3 yards per game. Jordan Lewis has emerged as one of the top DBs in America. EDGE: UM
SPECIAL TEAMS: Wow, has MSU even fielded a special teams unit this season? Blocked field goals, blocked punts, missed field goals, kicks out of bounds, kick return and punt return TDs, the Spartans have had one of America's worst special teams units this season. We don't even need analysis on UM's special teams other than Chesson took a kick back last week, so don't be surprised if it happens again against this MSU kick unit, assuming the kick stays in bounds. EDGE: UM
COACHING/INTAGIBLES: MSU's Mark Dantonio has been remarkably successful at MSU posting a 6-2 record against Michigan, and has won 2 Big Ten Titles, and 2 BCS bowls. Jim Harbaugh has turned things around matching last years win total already, but no big game wins yet at UM. Michigan State can yet again play with chip on shoulder mentality they love. EDGE: MSU
PREDICTION: 42 of last 45 winners have won the rushing battle, but I don't expect that to happen this season. MSU will struggle to run the ball, a depleted OL and injured RB going against a strong front 7 could put this whole game on the shoulders of Connor Cook. A 29-3 5th year starter, Cook is definitely ready to carry the Spartans much like he did last week with 367 passing yards. As long as Cook can avoid turnovers, I see the Paul Bunyan staying in EL for another year, but in one of the all time great games of the rivalry. MSU 28 UM 24
TOP TEN BIG TEN RIVALRY TROPHIES
With the Paul Bunyan Trophy on the line, the Big Ten's best rivalry trophy, I decided I would rank the top 10 trophies fought for in the Big Ten Conference. (Link for photo/history)
10- Old Oaken Bucket (Purdue/Indiana) Perhaps better if the game was ever meaningful.
9- Old Brass Spittoon (MSU/Indiana) A really random trophy, hardly a rivalry lately.
8- $5 Bits of Broken Chair (Minnesota/Nebraska) A product of social media, great read.
7- Little Brown Jug (Michigan/Minnesota) The most regularly exchanged rivalry trophy in NCAA.
6- Heartland Trophy (Iowa/Wisconsin) Iowa plays for a pig/bull...only in the Midwest.
5- Floyd of Rosedale (Iowa/Minnesota) It's ranked above the bull because it is the original animal.
4- Illibuck (Ohio State/Illinois) It's too bad they don't play for a real turtle anymore.
3- Land of Lincoln (NW/Illinois) A new trophy, but what's cooler than Lincoln's hat?
2-Paul Bunyan Axe/Slab of Bacon (Wisconsin/Minnesota) A slab of bacon and a giant axe? Yes.
1-Paul Bunyan Trophy (MSU/Michigan) Only thing better than his axe? 5ft Paul Bunyan himself.
Good research on the trophy rivalries!
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