Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Big Ten football: 3 bold predictions for Week 9 action

By Christopher Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Donovan Edwards #7 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball and avoids tackles by Curtis Jacobs #23 and Kobe King #41 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half of a college football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 41-17 over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Donovan Edwards #7 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball and avoids tackles by Curtis Jacobs #23 and Kobe King #41 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half of a college football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 41-17 over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 30: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines plays against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 30, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 30: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines plays against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 30, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2.Michigan runs Michigan State out of the building

Very few times in the history of Big Ten football — especially recent history — have we really seen a beatdown in the Michigan-MSU series. This is largely due to the fact that both programs are usually pretty good, but even more so the fact that both teams will come to play year after year.

The most recent time we have gotten a blowout was in 2019 when Michigan beat the struggling Spartans 44-10 in the Big House. I see a similar result this weekend for a few reasons, most of them leading back to the Spartans’ defense.

Michigan State’s defense is very bad, and that feels like sugarcoating it. The Spartans rank outside of the top 100 in most (if not all) defensive passing statistics and do not seem to be improving. Michigan State will have its hands full with Michigan’s many weapons on offense, including quarterback JJ McCarthy and running back Blake Corum. On the other side of the football, things do not seem to be much better as the MSU offense has struggled just the same.

The Spartans are 1-4 in their last five including losses to Washington, Minnesota, Maryland, and Ohio State. Michigan State did just beat Wisconsin in overtime though, which improved their season total to 3-4. The Wolverines’ defense matches up well with MSU’s struggling offense, and just about everyone in the nation can gain yards on Michigan State’s defense.

Most years I’d be confident that this game would be close regardless, but not this year. I don’t know why, but something tells me Michigan wants revenge for 2020 and 2021, and will not let off the gas in Ann Arbor this weekend.

A win over Michigan State would boost the Wolverines to 8-0 on the season.

Home/Big Ten