5 predictions for Michigan football against Michigan State

It's kind of crazy that there is so little juice surrounding the Michigan football-Michigan State game that the two teams will settle their rivalry on the Big Ten Network.

That might be the best sign of just how far things have fallen for the Wolverines, and how quickly. Michigan football is sitting at 4-3. There was hope for this season after a win over USC but that evaporated after back-to-back road losses to Washington and Illinois.

There is no hope of making the 12-team playoff now. That dream is dead. Hell, making a bowl game is going to be an uphill battle with Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State on the schedule, as well as Michigan State and Northwestern.

This year has been a huge disappointment..for a lot of reasons. But something important can be salvaged with a win over Michigan State. A loss to Sparty would be the death knell to the 2024 season and here are five predictions for a huge in-state rivalry game.

Michigan will look like "Michigan"

We heard that we were going to see this last week against Illinois. But this should be different. For one, it's a night game and two, it's a rivalry.

If you can't get up for this game, you shouldn't be playing for Michigan football. The season comes down to rivalry games at this point for the Wolverines and there should be too much pride in the locker room to lose to the Spartans.

In terms of looking like Michigan, I mean seeing a team play with an edge. I think we'll see that on defense. Michigan football will run the ball, stop the run, and hit the quarterback. If it can do those things -- the Wolverines can win.