College Football: In-state matchups for Week 9 filled with great rivalry games

This game between the Wolverines and Spartans is one of the best rivalry games in all of college football. This rivalry game become more of a nationally known game when these two teams faced off against each other last year in a match-up between two undefeated teams ranked in the top 10. It was the third most-watched game in all of college football in 2021.

Both programs are led by high-profile coaches in Michigan State’s Mel Tucker and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. Tucker in his first game against Harbaugh pulled off a major upset in 2020 when the Spartans defeated the Wolverines and last year, in arguably one of the best games in 2021, he led the Spartans to a victory over the Wolverines. Harbaugh is 3-4 against Michigan State with his best win over the Spartans coming in 2019. Fans of both programs as well as former players are already talking on social media outlets like Twitter as this should be another great rivalry game with both programs coming off of double-digit victories in 2021, expectations are high for both fan bases in 2022.

Michigan heads into this game as the favorite as they are undefeated at 7-0 with a win over ranked Penn State in week seven play. The Wolverines have defeated all their opponents this season with the exception of Maryland by double digits and have scored 41 or more points in four games this season. The Wolverines are on a collision course with Ohio State to capture the Big Ten East division title when the two teams face off against one another as well as a berth into the college football play.

Michigan State on the other hand has had a disappointing season and is fighting to become bowl-eligible this season. The Spartans after winning their first two games lost on the road to Washington before losing at home to Minnesota to go to 2-2. Michigan State then lost on the road to Maryland and then at home to Ohio State. To be fair, the combined records of Washington, Ohio State, and Maryland is 19-4.

However, after coming off a New Year’s Six victory over Pitt in the Peach Bowl, being 2-4 to start the year was not what fans of the program expected. The Spartans did beat Wisconsin in their last game before entering the bye week and look to that momentum into Ann Arbor in hopes of pulling off the upset and winning their third straight game against the Wolverines.  Let’s take an in-depth look at this rivalry and this week’s game between Michigan State and Michigan.

Last 15 Years of this rivalry: The Spartans have won 10 times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.

Last 10 Years of rivalry: Michigan State has won six times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.

Distance between schools: 49 miles

Rivalry Trophy: Paul Bunyan

Best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: Trouble with the snap game

Current Win Streak: Michigan State has won the last two games between the two schools.

Last meeting between both schools: The Spartans defeated the Wolverines at home by a final score of 37-33.

Prediction: Michigan 31 Michigan State 24