Michigan State Football: Ranking 2019 opponents by toughness

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EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 20: Donovan Peoples-Jones #9 of the Michigan Wolverines catches a second half touchdown and avoids the tackle of Tre Person #24 the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

There are many who believe Michigan is the clear favorite to win the Big Ten this season, but it’s tough to say the Wolverines will be better than the team they haven’t beaten in what seems like an eternity — we’ll get to Ohio State next.

However, Michigan is going to be tough, especially in Ann Arbor. Sure, the Spartans have beaten Michigan on the road in each game since Jim Harbaugh took over and haven’t lost in Ann Arbor since 2012 on a last-second field goal, but there’s a different feel about this year’s Wolverines. They just seem hungry to finally get to Indianapolis.

Words only get you so far, though, and that hunger has to be proven on the field and you know Mark Dantonio is going to get his guys up for this one, but winning three straight in the Big House against Harbaugh will be tough, especially with an improving offense led by Shea Patterson.

In fact, Patterson will have one of the best receiving corps in the country and a strong offensive line protecting him, but the backfield is unproven.

Defensively, Michigan lost a ton of key pieces, but will just reload. I don’t expect Don Brown’s defenses to ever take a major step back.

This will be a tough game and could help decide the Big Ten East.

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