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Michigan State Football: 5 reasons the Spartans can beat Michigan

By Adam Zdroik

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 25: Marcus Rush #44 of the Michigan State Spartans and teammate Connor Kruse #54 celebrate a win over the Michigan Wolverines and carry off the Paul Paul Bunyan trophy at Spartan Stadium on October 25 , 2014 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 35-11 (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 25: Marcus Rush #44 of the Michigan State Spartans and teammate Connor Kruse #54 celebrate a win over the Michigan Wolverines and carry off the Paul Paul Bunyan trophy at Spartan Stadium on October 25 , 2014 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines 35-11 (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans throws a fortth quarter pass behind Mike McCray #9 of the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan won the game 32-23. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 29: Brian Lewerke #14 of the Michigan State Spartans throws a fortth quarter pass behind Mike McCray #9 of the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium on October 29, 2016 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan won the game 32-23. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State’s quarterback advantage

Michigan State has a quarterback advantage. Yet, usually when a team is favored by 10 points or more, that usually means it’s superior in at least one facet of the game. That’s not the case here. The only reason to expect an easy win for Michigan is that it’s playing at home and its defense is slightly better. But playing at home and having a slightly better defense doesn’t equal 10-plus-point wins, especially with some questions at quarterback.

Michigan will start John O’Korn under center and that’s an immediate red flag as he hasn’t started for the Wolverines in his two seasons. That said, a lot of Michigan fans are happy that O’Korn will will start after how he looked against Purdue.

But some people are forgetting that Wilton Speight was the quarterback for the entire 2016 season and the beginning of this season for a reason. Not only does he have more experience in this offense, but Jim Harbaugh also thinks he’s better. O’Korn’s last relevant experience as a starter in a collegiate game came when he was with Houston back in 2013 and 2014. The numbers speak for themselves. He completed 58.1 percent of his passes in 2013 and after completing 52.0 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2014, he was benched.

That was a long time ago, but it was also the last time he was a starting quarterback. Michigan’s running game has been good, but nowhere near the level it was a year ago and that’s made evident by the its 4.3 yards per carry.

On the other side, the Spartans should have an advantage at quarterback with Brian Lewerke. He’s been iffy at times, but he’s better than Tyler O’Connor and that’s why the team looks improved this year. Lewerke has tossed for eight touchdowns and more importantly leads the team in rushing. While the ground game led by LJ Scott hasn’t been prolific, as long as the Spartans can move the chains at a consistent rate, that’ll be enough to cover and have a chance at an upset.

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