Still, there is plenty to prove. The defense has been, at most times, atrocious. We haven't beaten anyone who is that good yet. We started similarly last year. So while the start is encouraging, we aren't out of the woods just yet.
Enter - Michigan State. They are off to a 5-0 start as well. They have beaten us twice in a row, which hasn't happened since the 1960s (not sure 3 in a row has ever happened). They are coming off a big win against a highly rated opponent (Wisconsin).
Plenty of pundits are picking MSU to win this game. Plenty of UM fans are afraid of this game. Plenty of MSU fans are getting their lighters and gas ready for another night of celebratory couch burning.
BUT HERE'S THE THING. IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. Michigan is not going down this week. There is too much pride in that locker room, too much talent on that offense, and there will be too much energy in the stands and on the Michigan side of the field for MSU to win Saturday. So while couches may still burn in East Lansing (it seems a given at this point), it will be in anger and not celebration.
The biggest concern for UM is stopping the Spartan offense. I do not believe that we are going to somehow completely stop their offense, or even hold them to a relatively low point total. The Sparties will get their points and they will get their yards. However, the best defensive game UM has played all year is against UCONN, who plays a similar offense to MSU. Granted, MSU is better, especially at QB, but I still think that gives some hope. Add in that Cousins has been mistake-prone over the last couple years, and MSU has struggled with 3rd down conversions (#81 in the nation - 37.1%), and I think our defense gets the MSU offense off the field enough to let our offense do its thing.
And once our offense gets on the field - LOOK OUT. The new media theme is that "this is the best D that UM has faced" and that MSU will be able to contain Michigan's offense. Guess what again - NOT GONNA HAPPEN. MSU and Dantonio have always struggled with the spread - and that does not even account for Denard Robinson. This guy is a special talent. A transcendent talent. And he will be running all over the field on Saturday. For that matter, he will be passing all over the field as well. This is NOT a good defense. This is NOT a defense that even has a shot at standing up to UM. Our offense is going to have an absolute field day - I will GUARANTEE right now we get 30+ points and 500+ yards.
At the end of the day, Little Brother has had his run, and it is time to restore order to the universe. I think it will be close for most of the game, but the pressure UM's offense puts on the entire MSU team will be too much to handle and we will pull away in the end.
FINAL SCORE | University of Michigan | 45 |
Michigan State University | 34 |
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