Michigan State Football: 3 advantages Spartans have over No. 6 Michigan

Michigan State football enters Saturday’s matchup against rival Michigan as the underdog. This is nothing new for the Spartans and they usually thrive in this role, but it’ll be interesting to see what the intensity level for this game is under second-year head coach Mel Tucker.

We know Tucker doesn’t like to refer to Michigan by name, so that’s a start on the hatred, and he’s been well-versed on the ins and outs of Hate Week.

But even though Michigan State is at home, undefeated, and ranked No. 8 in the country, it’s the underdog against the also-undefeated and 7-0 Wolverines. Certainly, the Spartans have to have some sort of advantage heading into this game, right?

What advantages do the Spartans hold over Michigan?

3. Explosive return game

I may be in the minority here, but I think special teams is going to play a massive role in this game. Sometimes we get caught up a little too much in the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and who holds advantages there and forget about special teams but that can be an absolute game-changer and flip momentum for one side.

Jayden Reed has flipped a couple of games on their heads this season, completely shifting the momentum in the Nebraska win as well as the Western Kentucky victory.

Down by a touchdown with no offense in sight, Reed returned a punt for a touchdown against the Cornhuskers which really got the Spartans going and they ended up winning in overtime. And against Western Kentucky, he led the game off with a punt return touchdown and Michigan State never looked back.

Michigan has a decent return game, but Reed gives the Spartans the advantage here and if the Wolverines kick to him, it might turn into six.