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3 Keys for Michigan Football to beat Michigan State

By Adam Childs

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 16: Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with teammates and the Paul Bunyan Trophy after a college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, MI. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 44-10 over the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 16: Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with teammates and the Paul Bunyan Trophy after a college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Ann Arbor, MI. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 44-10 over the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
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1. Get ahead early

Saturday is a rivalry game and funny things can happen in these games. Underdogs can pull off upsets or keep a game close that they have no business being in. On paper, this is a game that the Spartans shouldn’t be in, but they still might be.

Because of this, the Wolverines need to get ahead early. They need to make sure they bury them early and not give them any hope in this game. Letting them stay in the game early can be a snowball effect that often leads to upsets.

Michigan needs to come out with its foot on the accelerator and show the Spartans that they have no business being in the game. And to be honest, if they come out with the gameplan they did against Minnesota they should be in good shape.

Related Story. Grading defense and special teams vs Gophers. light

The Spartan defense didn’t play terribly against Rutgers, as they were often put in bad situations. But even with that, they didn’t get the stops they needed to. They only gave up 276 yards of total offense, but nobody is going to confuse the Scarlet Knights of being an offensive juggernaut.

Michigan needs to get after them on defense, force turnovers, and then turn that into points and do it early. They did a great job of jumping on Minnesota after that first touchdown and never looked back. The second half seemed more like a foregone conclusion than anything else. Let’s hope the Wolverines can do that again this Saturday.

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