Having an extra week of preparation could end up being the difference on Saturday night as Michigan State and Michigan are set to square off for the 119th time.
The Battle for Paul Bunyan may not have quite the fanfare that it’s used to having this year, but that won’t stop these two rivals from hating the daylights out of each other for 24 hours (and honestly more) — especially those three hours tonight after the game kicks off.
The rivalry may not be as loud and obnoxious this year, but toxicity can live in darkness.
It’s time for some bold predictions for what should be a heated showdown between the Spartans and Wolverines.
Michigan State scores on its opening drive
Michigan is going to win the toss and defer, giving Michigan State and whatever quarterback is healthy enough to trot out there the ball with a chance to set the tone.
And they will.
Nick Sheridan will have a masterclass of an opening drive drawn up and Kayd Coffman (who I believe starts) will hit some short and intermediate throws to extend the drive while Kenneth Williams and Brandon Tullis ground and pound their way down the field. They’ll convert on a huge fourth-and-1 in Michigan territory and eventually get down to the one where Tullis bulls his way into the end zone.
Michigan State takes a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after an eight-minute drive and it’ll be up to the defense to hold down its end of the bargain to really take control of the game.
Michigan State scores a defensive TD
I don’t think there’s going to be a ton of offense in this one from either team so it could come down to who makes the biggest defensive play of the game. Michigan State will at least have that.
In the third quarter of a tight game, Nikai Martinez is going to read Tommy Carr’s eyes perfectly and jump a route, catching everyone off guard on a play that looked like it was going to be a huge-gainer for Michigan. He’ll juke out a couple of would-be tacklers before stiff-arming Carr and reaching the end zone for a huge score.
That’ll make it 14-10 Michigan State and the momentum will have swung back in a huge way after surrendering 10 straight points to Michigan in the second quarter.
It all comes down to a last-second FG
After tying the game up at 17-17 in the fourth quarter, because of course Michigan will respond to Michigan State’s go-ahead defensive touchdown with a quick touchdown, the Wolverines will be driving with about four minutes left and Kyle Whittingham is going to play conservative and melt the clock. He’ll go 32 yards in four minutes, setting up a chip-shot field goal to win the game.
Unfortunately, Michigan State is going to come up just short yet again as it loses its third game on the final play from scrimmage in a month. Michigan wins 20-17.
Add us as a preferred source on Google