Michigan Football: Michigan State at Michigan -- GBMWolverine Staff Predictions

Posted at 5:30am — 10/20/2012

Michigan Football: Michigan State at Michigan — GBMWolverine Staff Predictions

Michigan leads the all-time series vs. Michigan State 67-32-5.
Saturday’s battle will mark the 60th meeting for the Paul Bunyan Trophy in the rivalry.
Michigan seeks its 900th all-time victory. All-Time Record 899-312-36 (.735)
Michigan has won 11 straight home games.
Michigan is 15-0 under head coach Brady Hoke when scoring 20 or more points.

Denard Robinson owns the top eight single game total offense totals in U-M history. Robinson became the eighth player in NCAA history to rush for 40 touchdowns and pass for 40 touchdowns in his career.

Pregame
• 2011-12 NCAA National Champions
• Flyover During National Anthem — Coast Guard
• Football Player Alumni Tunnel

Giveaways
• Maize Pompoms

Recognitions
• Michigan Football Spotlight: Willis Ward Presentation
• Michigan Sport Spotlight: Men’s & Women’s Tennis, Men’s & Women’s Basketball
• Tisch Tower Video

Michigan Marching Band Halftime Show — “Thrill of the Fight”
• Gonna Fly Now
• Eye of the Tiger
• Going the Distance

The GBMWolverine staff have made their predictions, how about you? Come to the message board and make your prediction and also comment on the thread.

CoachBT:

Michigan defense is too much for Michigan State’s offense and Michigan offense does just enough.

Michigan State 17
Michigan 28

October 13, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Thomas Rawls (38) runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIREDoc4Blu:

MSU is being ho-hummed a little too much. This team should have beat Ohio State, but also should have lost to Indiana, a feat Ohio State damn near pulled off as well.

On the surface the match-ups and recent history favor MSU. The defensive scheme has shut down Michigan to precious few highlights recently.

But this is a different time and the tide has changed the last few weeks. Michigan State is fighting injuries, but will come in fighting for their/its life.

Michigan State has a true horse in the running game, one that could be ridden to the finish line. Michigan has continued to improve offensive line play and it is high time the backs reward the linemen with a big performance.

Michigan State has some major players on the front seven of the defense. The offense has not protected the defense well enough lately by not having the usual ground chuck time-consuming drives. Still, this Spartan offense is dangerous enough to have a game good enough to ruin a lot of dreams. The defense has allowed some very strong teams only a few strong drives, but other less thought of teams have had more success against the Spartan defense. It will be a war and there is no need to wonder if the Spartans come in motivated, they will. This is Dantonio’s Christmas and New Year’s rolled into one big game.

MSU can do some damage up the middle against the Michigan tackles, who frankly must have a good day. The short passing game will prove pesky with the out, the screens, and the crossing patterns over the middle. Michigan must be disciplined and not become frustrated and give up the big score.

Penalties and turnovers may play a bigger role than normal, and one play may be one shining moment or one instant disaster.

Michigan has more purpose than in the past and hopefully good decisions are made that will not bring back memories of the infamous 4th and 1.

And so, after running the rat on the calculator treadmill the prediction is

Michigan State 13
Michigan 20

Oct 13, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) smiles after the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 45-0. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-US PRESSWIREErocWolverine

Well big game for this Michigan team, this season. They need to break the 0-4 record the past couple of years and need to get the momentum back to reality in this rivalry game. With the last four years this game has gotten a lot more attention from Michigan fans and are making a bigger deal about it.

Think this game Michigan will show Sparty what they will see for the next couple of years under this current coaching staff.

Michigan State has struggled most of the year with their offense. Yea, they have had glimpses once in awhile, but they haven’t put it together for a entire game. This is their big game of the year especially being 1-2 in the conference they cannot afford another loss or their season is a failure in the Big Ten eyes.

I believe the Michigan defense will squash their offense and suffocate them this game and not allow them to get on a roll.

The Michigan offense should be better prepared for what Michigan State will try and do with blitzing right up the middle and bringing a lot of players on the blitz. That has been a good thing for Michigan this season because if Denard can get an opening he can create plays and a lot of of yards on his way to the endzone. He does struggle with pressure at times as we have seen this year, but think in this game he has another big game running the ball.

Michigan needs the entire offense to bring their best game. The o-line with blocking, the receiver with running good routes along with blocking, catching the ball, and the backs running north/south once they get the ball and try and get the most yards they can.

Michigan State 13
Michigan 32

MaizeMan:

No prediction sent in this week.

The Streak! When I think about today’s game the phrase that sticks in my mind is that darned streak. Our legendary play by play great Bob Ufer used to say, “I’ve never seen a team get more mileage out of a single win, as when Michigan State beats us.” Imagine if old Bob would have been behind the mic the last four years! He would be crawling out of his Maize N Blue skin. Those of us who live in this state are sick of hearing about it. It has truly become nauseating!

Michigan State is going through somewhat of a transition year on offense with new QB Andrew Maxwell. It hasn’t helped him that two of his starting offensive lineman are out for the season, and to this point his receviers have had butter fingers too often. They would appear to be a one dimensional team right now. Hand off to Le’Veon Bell and hope for the best. Those of us who have watched footage on them know that this team, at times, is just a click away from putting it together. They will eventually, but let’s hope it’s not today.

On defense, the Spartans sit at the top of the heap in the Big 10 in most categories. They have had a penchant for giving up big plays this year at very inopportune times. It is dangerous for us, and other opponents to think this defense is not that good. Last week Iowa had a grand total of 95 yards offense heading into the 4th quarter. Yes..the Spartan D gave up two big plays that turned the tide for Iowa in that game, but other than that they completely controlled the Hawkeyes. Like everyone in the conference they have their warts, but make no mistake, this is a good defense. Their weakness this year has been their own offenses inability to stay on the field consistantly, and put points on the board to take some pressure off of them.

On the other side of the coin. Michigan appears to be gaining steam defensively. We are playing fast, pursuing to the ball, tackling much better, and our press coverage on the corners is in the receivers faces. It’s so nice to not see corners playing 10 or 15 yards off of receivers, giving them the soft underneath stuff. We’re coming off of two dominant performances, and hopefully both of those games were signs of thing to come. Coach Mattison is again showing us what an outstanding Coordinator, teacher, motivator, and game manager he is. I would be surprised if the D isn’t responsible for leading the way to victory tomorrow.

On offense, I’m still unsure as to what to think. I like our emphasis on the running game, and letting Denard get back to what he does best. That said, Sparty has been the architect the past two years in designing defenses that take Denard away and make other players beat them. Ask Nick Saban. He was impressed enough by what the Spartans have done to Denard that he sent his staff to East Lansing on a little camping trip this summer to copycat the Spartan game plan. Enough said. I do think the game plan we’ve seen the last two weeks, will be the same one we’ll see today. Play to our strengths by letting Denard run, get Fitz and Rawls their carries, and throw the ball enough, and with some success, to keep Sparty on thier heels. If that dosn’t work in the first half we’ll need to resort to plan B. Which is the Alabama & Notre Dame game plan. Throw to setup the run! Not sure I like that prospect, but we need to find a way to move the chains and get points on the board against this team. I know this much…it won’t be easy.

Yes, the Spartans are struggling this year. Yes, their offense lacks continuity. Yes, their defense has consistantly given up big plays at bad times. Yes, they will come ready to play today. As usual, I expect this to be a physical and hard hitting game. I also expect the streak to end today. Do I see a tight game, or a blowout? I have no idea. There are so many variables that come into play when making a prediction in a rivalry game. So, this is my best guess.

Let’s end the streak and head to Lincoln for another tough road matchup. GO BLUE!

Michigan State 17
Michigan 24

SKWDCOP:

No prediction sent in this week.

WerlsWolverine

Michigan State 19
Michigan 35

October 13, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Jeremy Gallon (10) runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIREYostMeister

Michigan needs to prove that they are tougher in the trenches this year. Win the line play, win the game.

MSU is basically making this their season- and their defense will be ready. Michigan needs the best ball protection from DR and find ways to spring him loose. The weather conditions will not favor a passing game, so who ever runs the ball the best will also have the best chance to win.

On defense, it’s simple: stop Maxwell and take away Bell. Pressure will be key. Look out for mis-direction and the big play.

Michigan ends the 4 year drought.

Michigan State 16
Michigan 20

Just a reminder you must be a member to participate on the Message Board. Here is the link for the registration page for those people interested in becoming a GBMWolverine member of our message board. GBMWolverine Register.

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Follow us on Twitter:
@ErocWolverine
@GBMWolverine
@Mike Fitzpatrick
@YostMeister

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Home/Michigan Wolverines News