Oct 4, 2006, 16:10 GMT
(Sports Network) - Bitter intrastate rivals collide at the Big House in Ann Arbor this Saturday, as the Michigan State Spartans come calling on the sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines. After jumping out to a 3-0 start, John L. Smith's Spartans are coming off their second straight loss, an embarrassing 23-20 setback at home to Illinois -- a club that hadn't won a Big Ten game in its last 10 tries and is just 2-25 in its last 27 conference tilts. Michigan State had beaten the Illini nine straight times prior to the loss. The Spartans could be staring down the barrel of a four-game slide if they're not careful, as following this bout with Michigan is a home date with top-ranked Ohio State. The Wolverines ran off their fifth straight win to open the season, reclaiming the Little Brown Jug by knocking off Minnesota in Minneapolis last Saturday, 28-14. Michigan, which is 5-0 for the first time since 1999, remained unbeaten in 11 trips to the Metrodome. The Maize and Blue have their work cut out for them if they are to face No. 1 Ohio State in the regular-season finale with an unblemished record, as following this contest they will play tough opponents in Penn State and Iowa in succession. Michigan owns a 65-28-5 edge in the all-time series with Michigan State, and has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, which began going to the winner of this bout back in 1953, leans in favor of the Wolverines as well, 32-19-2. Michigan is 16-3 vs. Michigan State at home, dating back to 1968, and has won each of the last seven games vs. the Spartans in Ann Arbor.
The Michigan State offense generated a mere 259 total yards against an Illinois defense which had played well at time this year, but still wasn't considered to be one the Big Ten's elite units. The Spartans saw their Big Ten-best rushing average drop to 220.8 ypg after they mustered a dismal 82 yards on 32 carries (2.6 ypc). Jehuu Caulcrick was the team's leading rusher, but managed just 35 yards and a TD on 13 totes. As for QB Drew Stanton, he hit 15-of-24 passes for 144 yards, but did not have a scoring strike. T.J. Williams and Kerry Reed were MSU's top pass catchers, hauling in a combined nine balls for 98 yards. The Illini posted five sacks on the day and allowed the Spartans to convert just 4- of-13 third down tries. Javon Ringer is the team's leading rusher on the year, ranking sixth in the league with 438 yards. He has, however, scored only one TD. As for Stanton, he is completing 63.3 percent of his pass attempts for 187 ypg with eight TDs against four INTs.
The Michigan State defense allowed two UI players to rush for more than 100 yards last week, giving up 252 yards on the ground. As a result, the Spartans dropped to third in the Big Ten with an average rushing allowance of 107.0 ypg. They have given up just two TDs on the ground this year, so coach Smith should be proud of his defense's efforts on the whole, save for last weekend's performance. Where MSU has really dropped the ball this season is against the pass, yielding 223.8 ypg and a league-worst 12 scores. Illinois managed just 138 yards through the air, but scored both of its TDs that way. David Herron Jr. led the State stand with a game-high 12 tackles, while Otis Wiley, the team's leading tackler on the year with 38, finished with 11. The Spartans lacked big plays on defense, logging just one TFL, breaking up a single pass and coming up with only one turnover. MSU has forced just eight turnovers in five games, which is tied for the second-fewest in the Big Ten at the moment.
With the Big Ten's leading rusher running roughshod through the Minnesota defense, Michigan encountered little resistance in their annual battle for the Little Brown Jug as it doubled up the Golden Gophers, 28-14. Mike Hart gained a season-best 195 yards, helping the Wolverines earn a season-high 518 yards of total offense. Hart didn't reach the end zone, but has scored five TDs on the year and is averaging 134.4 ypg. As for QB Chad Henne, the league's fifth- ranked passer (61.6 percent completions, 192.6 ypg, 10 TDs, four INTs), he threw for a season-best 284 yards and three TDs, two of which landed in the hands of Adrian Arrington. They were the first two scoring receptions for Arrington, now a junior. Mario Manningham led all Michigan pass catchers with five grabs for 131 yards and a score, marking his third straight game with a TD. Manningham is averaging a Big Ten-best 21.5 yards per catch and 90.4 yards per game, and is tied with Minnesota's Logan Payne for the most TD receptions (seven).
The Michigan defense bent at times, but refused to break against the Golden Gophers, yielding a season-high 323 total yards, although most of them came late. The Minnesota offense was on the field for just over 22 minutes, giving the Wolverine defenders plenty of time to rest. The Gophers converted a mere 3- of-12 third down tries and wound up with just 108 rushing yards -- a far cry from the 203.0 ypg the team averages on the year. Michigan continues to lead the conference in rushing defense (36.4 ypg) and foes have yet to score a TD on the ground. The Wolverines are also the league's top team in terms of total defense (238.2 ypg), while ranking third in scoring defense (14.4 ppg). David Harris raised his team-leading tackles total to 35 with a nine-stop performance against the Gophers. Michigan sits second in the Big Ten in sacks with 17, but failed to post a sack in last week's win.
Michigan State's loss to Illinois was certainly surprising and could start the team on a downward spiral it may never recover from. Michigan is poised to make a run at Ohio State and claim the Big Ten title. The Wolverines have some work to do, but this one should wind up in the win column.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Michigan 35, Michigan State 14
© 2006 The Sports Network
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