Michigan Football: 3 ways Wolverines win, one way they lose to MSU

Win the turnover battle

In every defeat the Spartans have suffered, they lost the turnover battle. It wasn’t the run game. ASU was outrushed 113 yards to 76 when they beat MSU. And Illinois, they were killed on the ground, 275-36.

It doesn’t come down to the passing game. MSU had more passing yards than Ohio State in their 24-point loss to the Buckeyes.

It’s turnovers.

The only common denominator is the turnover battle. In the five losses, MSU coughed up the ball more than their opponent did, including the costly late-game pick-six quarterback Brian Lewerke threw this weekend.

What Michigan football was doing at the beginning of the season, Michigan State is doing now. In the past two games, the Wolverines held on to the ball tight and didn’t give away free points as they had in their two losses, and should that continue, UM will easily slide past the Spartans.

“When you look at the statistics, the one big factor that sticks out is they had four turnovers (gained), we had two,” Dantonio said after the Illinois disaster. “Plus-two turnovers (against) is tough to win.”

Mark knows what the issue is and will work hard this week to mitigate the mistakes. Michigan’s defensive coordinator, Don Brown, also knows what plagues Sparty, and he will do everything in his power to keep the turnovers in Michigan’s favor.

The coach that imposes their will on the enemy will be the one walking away with the turnover chain and the W.