Michigan Football: 5 predictions for the Wolverines against Michigan State

Higdon won’t reach 100 but will still be effective

When it comes to Michigan football and Michigan State, the running game is always key. In fact, the team that finishes with more rushing yards tends to win this game and Saturday, there is a good chance that will ring true again.

For Michigan, the question is, how will Karan Higdon do against the Spartans top-ranked run defense? While I don’t expect Higdon to keep his streak of 100-yard games going, I do expect a solid outing from the senior back who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

At 217 yards per game, Michigan has the fifth-best rushing attack in the Big Ten. The Spartans who average just 123 rank 13th. L.J. Scott, the Spartans’ top back, is listed as questionable. He hasn’t played for a few weeks but if Michigan State is going to have a chance to out-rush the Wolverines, he needs to be in the backfield.

Even if he is, as long as Higdon can rack up 80 yards or so on 20 carries, Michigan football should be just fine. The Wolverines don’t need 300 yards rushing as they had against Wisconsin, they just need a respectable running game. If they get it, their chances of winning will be much better.