State the obvious: Michigan easy
Michigan-Michigan State is one of college football’s oldest and fiercest rivalries, but this year’s meeting is a David and Goliath mismatch. While Michigan is undefeated and figures to make a strong push toward a playoff berth, MSU is suffering through a five-game losing streak in a rare rebuilding year with its 2-5 record (0-4 in Big Ten play).
So the Spartans could be in for a very long afternoon tomorrow when the teams meet in East Lansing.
Michigan dominated the rivalry for years, and own a 6835-5 series record. But when Mark Dantonio took over the MSU coaching reins nine years ago, things changed. Michigan State, referred to as “our little brother” by a Wolverine locker room loudmouth, has now won seven of the last eight meetings, including the last three. Nobody on Michigan’s current roster has ever beaten Sparty. But that will change tomorrow.
The Wolverines have waited a year to avenge last season’s bitter 27-23 loss, when MSU returned a blocked punt for a touchdown on the game’s final play. Given Sparty’s recent struggles, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s take-no-prisoners approach to games, it is no wonder the Wolverines are a 241⁄ 2- point favorite.
Michigan can name the score here, and the point spread suggests it’ll name it B-I-G. Lay the points with Michigan.
In other games tomorrow: Western Kentucky (-21) over FAU — The Hilltoppers are starting to roll, leading the C-USA East while averaging just over 50 points per conference game. The struggling 1-6 Owls should be put away by halftime. NOTRE DAME (+2) over Miami — Back in the day, this rivalry was one of college football’s most contentious. Now it is a ho-hum clash featuring two teams struggling to earn a minor bowl bid. The Irish are always a dangerous dog in South Bend;
take the points. Baylor (-31⁄ 2) over TEXAS — The Bears are the only FBS team to start each of the last four seasons 6-0, and should get to 7-0 over a Texas team that employs a very charitable defense. Stanford (-6) over ARIZONA — Have a hunch the quarterback switch to Keller Chryst and the expected return of Christian McCaffrey will jump-start the stagnant Cardinal offense. Give the points. Duke (+61⁄ 2) over GEORGIA TECH — The touchdown headstart looks good against a Ramblin’ Wreck defense that ranks 119th in takeaways and 126th in third-down stops. Go Devils. Florida (-71⁄ 2) over Georgia (in Jacksonville, Fla.) — Florida’s second-ranked defense must be licking its chops for a shot at the Dawgs’ struggling offense that passed for just 28 yards in a recent game at South Carolina. Auburn (-41⁄ 2) over MISSISSIPPI
— Good luck to Ole Miss’ 113thranked rush defense, turned inside-out last week by LSU. Now it must contend with a rejuvenated Auburn attack that
accumulated 543 rushing yards in a 56-3 win over Arkansas last week. Tennessee (-131⁄ 2) over SOUTH CAROLINA — The Vols have survived a brutal early schedule and are still very much alive for the SEC East title. Refreshed by a bye, UT will make short work of the punchless Gamecocks. LOUISIANA TECH (-281⁄ 2) over Rice — The Bulldogs have won four in a row and will take the Owls and their 126th-ranked defense to the woodshed. Washington (-10) over UTAH — In a possible preview of the Pac-12 title game, side with a UDub team that ranks fourth in scoring offense (48.3 points per game), sixth in scoring defense (14.6) and leads the nation in turnover margin at plus-14. OREGON (-71⁄ 2) over Arizona
State — The 2-5 Ducks have struggled through a rebuilding season but they are always a tough beat at Autzen Stadium and figure to do a lot of damage to the Sun Devils’ 120th-ranked defense. Last week: 4-8-0 Season: 43-50-3