Michigan Football: 3 Michigan State players to watch against Wolverines

Michigan football will face Michigan State on Saturday and here are three Spartans you need to know going into Saturday’s showdown. 

When you have two 7-0 teams, you expect to see some quality football and that’s what we should see between the Wolverines and Spartans on Saturday.

It’s the battle for Paul Bunyan and it’s heated. Jim Harbaugh doesn’t want to be 0-2 against Mel Tucker and Michigan State fans would love nothing more.

Not to mention, the winner stays in the thick of the College Football Playoff race, as well as keeping pace in the Big Ten East.

The stakes are high for Michigan football and Michigan State. We know the Wolverines but here are three Spartans to know and who could determine the outcome Saturday.

Kenneth Walker III

From a Michigan football perspective, Kenneth Walker might be the key to a whole ballgame. Payton Thorne is a solid quarterback and he’s got some talented wideouts to throw to. There’s no question about that.

But the numbers also tell the story of how Michigan State’s offense has struggled when Walker has been held in check.

In seven games this season, Michigan State has scored 30 points or more five times. In all of those games, Walker averaged more than four yards per rushing attempt.

Twice this season, he has been held under that mark: against Nebraska and Indiana. In those two games, the Spartans scored 23 points (in overtime) and 20.

21.5 points isn’t bad, but Michigan’s defense is much better than Indiana’s or Nebraska’s, and remember, the Spartans were stuck on 13 points against the Huskers before a late punt return for a touchdown saved the day.

If Michigan can contain Walker, a big if, the Wolverines should stand a very good chance of winning.