Michigan Football: 3 Reasons Wolverines will beat Michigan State
By Josh LaFond
The battle for the bragging rights of the state of Michigan. The Paul Bunyan trophy. An undefeated season. They’re all on the line this Saturday in the game against Michigan State. Will Michigan football come out on top?
After starting out ranked #15 in the preseason AP poll, Michigan State has disappointed, sitting at 3-4. The Spartans’ offense has been in shambles and the defense hasn’t been much better. A combination of poor coaching, bad play-calling, and a plethora have injuries have decimated that unit.
The weakest part of their offense is a run game that ranks 116th nationally, only averaging 106 yards per game. On defense?
It’s been much of the same issues as last year; a secondary that has yet to find a consistent rotation or been able to cover anything more than 10 yards down the field. That’s evidenced by their 110th nationally-ranked pass defense.
But this is a rivalry game, and one of the weirdest, wildest ones in the country.
Michigan football vs Ohio State is a game of tradition, respect, and equal hatred for each other. Michigan vs Michigan State on the other hand? It’s like living next door to a neighbor you despise and who is always doing things to get under your skin. It’s an all-out, no holds barred 60-minute trench fight.
Throw the record books out. It’s dirty, it’s nasty, and someone is going to be pissed off once the clock hits 00:00.
Will this Michigan Wolverine team win the Paul Bunyan trophy and keep their undefeated season alive?
Join us as we discuss the reasons we believe Michigan football will beat Michigan State.
Michigan’s pass rush negates the Michigan State passing attack
Michigan State is nowhere near the type of offense they were last year. Heisman candidate and star running back Kenneth Walker III is gone, and they’ve yet to find a replacement for him either individually or in the aggregate.
So what of the offense now?
It’s fallen on the shoulders of second-year starting quarterback Payton Thorne.
Thorne is a gunslinger who has his ups and downs, to say the least. And that’s good news for the Michigan defense.
The Wolverine pass rush led by Eyabi Okie and Mike Morris should be able to hone in on Thorne, and a sub-par Spartan offensive line.
If the Wolverines can get after Thorne and rattle his cage — and there’s no reason to think they won’t — they’ll win the game.