Week nine’s in-state matchups makes it possibly the best in-state games since week two and is headlined by a game in the state of Michigan.
The San Diego State and Fresno State rivalry is unknow to many fans around the college football landscape who don’t follow Mountain West football. However, both fanbases appreciate this rivalry between these two in-state schools from the state of California.
Both teams are tied for first place in the west division of the Mountain West conference at 2-1 and whom ever wins has an opportunity to be in solely in first place in their division heading into week 10 play. Let’s take a look at this week’s game between the Aztecs and Bulldogs.
Last 15 games of this rivalry: The Aztecs have won eight times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.
Last 10 Years of this rivalry: Fresno State has won six times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.
Distance between schools: 344 miles
Rivalry Trophy: Old Oil Can
Best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: 2013 Overtime Game
Current Win Streak: Fresno State has won the last game between the two schools having a one-game winning streak.
Last meeting between both schools: The Bulldogs defeated the Aztecs on the road by a final score of 30-20.
Prediction: Fresno State 34 San Diego State 28
There are bigger rivalries in the PAC 12 between California schools but this rivalry is still a good one even though the Cardinals have dominated this rivalry over the past decade. UCLA has had a great season thus far but lost their last game to Oregon to no longer be undefeated and atop of the PAC 12 standings.
Stanford had a rough start to the season losing their first four conference games but the Cardinals’ defense has stepped up their two past games defeating Notre Dame on the road and holding the Fighting Irish to only 14 points and then this past week beating Arizona State and once again holding their opponent to only 14 points. This game will be a contest between a high-powered offense in UCLA, against a tough-minded defense in Stanford. Let’s take an in-depth look at this rivalry and this week’s game between the Cardinals and Bruins.
Last 15 games of this rivalry: The Cardinals have won 12 times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.
Last 10 Years of this rivalry: Stanford has won eight times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.
Distance between schools: 352 miles
Rivalry Trophy: None
Best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: 2012 PAC 12 Championship Game
Current Win Streak: UCLA has won the last game between the two schools having a one-game winning streak.
Last meeting between both schools: The Bruins defeated the Cardinals on the road by a final score of 35-24.
Prediction: UCLA 21 Stanford 19
Once again we take a look at a rivalry game between two Mid-American teams that both reside in the state of Ohio. This is the least exciting game of this week’s in-state rivalry slate of games but no matter the record these two teams usually find a way to produce an entertaining game. Both the RedHawks and Zips are at the bottom of the MAC East standings but Miami (OH) did play well early in the season.
The RedHawks went on the road and beat a Big Ten opponent in Northwestern and after losing a close game on the road against Buffalo who is undefeated in MAC play, Miami (OH) beat Kent State. Akron on the other hand has lost seven straight games but the positive for the Zips is that four of the last five games by only single digits. Let’s now take a closer look at this week’s game between the Zips and RedHawks.
Last 15 games of this rivalry: The Red Hawks have won 10 times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.
Last 10 Years of series: Miami (OH) has won six times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.
Distance between schools: 237 miles
Rivalry Trophy: None
Best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: 2019 Game
Current Win Streak: Miami (OH) has won the last five games between the two schools.
Last meeting between both schools: The RedHawks defeated the Zips at home by a final score of 34-21.
Prediction: Miami (OH) 28 Akron 17
Not only are these two games involving in-state rivals going up against one another, these two games are power five conference games with a lot on the line for all four teams.
Besides the fact that these two schools play for a cool-looking rivalry trophy, this a great rivalry game between two Big 12 schools that reside in the state of Texas. Both teams are 2-2 in conference play that are highlighted by the Red Raiders win over Texas and the Bears’ victory against Kansas. Both teams also lost close games as Baylor lost two games by six and three points with those two games being on road and Texas Tech lost three games on the road against teams that were ranked in the top 25 at the time they played them. This should be a great game as both teams look to win to get closer to bowl eligibility and to climb the Big 12 standings.
Last 15 games of this rivalry: The Bears have won eight times during the past 15 games these two in-state rivals had played against each other.
Last 10 Years of series: Baylor has won seven times during the past 10 games that these two schools have played one another.
Distance between schools: 237 miles
Rivalry Trophy: Texas Shootout
Best game between these two schools over the past 10 years: 2021 Game
Current Win Streak: Baylor has a one-game winning streak as they won the last game between the two schools.
Last meeting between both schools: The Bears defeated the Red Raiders at home by a final score of 27-24.
Prediction: Texas Tech 28 Baylor 24
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