Staff predictions: Michigan vs. Michigan State

Monsoons. Overmatched back-up quarterbacks. Fluky punt drops, and unprecedented review failure followed by Big Ten apologies. NFL opt-outs in a COVID season with limited practice time.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been hit with all that and more against MSU since coming back to Ann Arbor to coach — and that doesn’t even include the broken arm he suffered as a player in 1984 that cost the Wolverines that game. 

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Yes, crazy things have happened in this series, and the vast majority have gone Michigan State’s way (we’ll give them Drew Stanton in 2004). It’s past time it evened out. 

If this Michigan team needs help to beat this MSU team, though, then we’re going to start to wonder if the Spartans made a deal with the football gods. Michigan is a legit playoff contender, and the Wolverines have a real Heisman contender in running back Blake Corum. Other than a couple receivers, there aren’t many MSU players who would see time on this Michigan team. 

And yet, given all the aforementioned “B.S.” as one Wolverine called it this week, there’s still some angst among Michigan fans about this one. It’s “everything to lose and nothing to gain” and “your obnoxious Sparty neighbor won’t stop talking about it if they win, will pretend it didn’t happen and/or he didn’t care if they lose” week all rolled into one. 

But the tide has turned a bit in the last week or so, since the Spartans upset the Big Ten West second-to-last place Wisconsin Badgers. Before that, they were sending memes to each other comparing head coach Mel Tucker to former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke — all clap, no substance. 

Another popular one — “this guy (Tucker) happened to ruin two programs (abysmal Colorado and MSU) in three years! And we gave him $95 million!”

Now, they’re checking the forecasts and lighting the candles in their Mark Dantonio voodoo kits, and thinking, “maybe.” And make no mistake — they could win this one Saturday and lose the rest and they’d set up a GoFundMe account to add another million or two to Tucker’s annual salary. 

But we don’t expect it. In fact, if ever there was a time Harbaugh might leave his foot on the gas, it would be this game, this year. The Wolverines are a three-touchdown favorite, and that seems apropos.

Congratulations to Anthony Broome, who correctly predicted the Michigan dismantling of Penn State two weeks ago. This week’s winner receives a miniature Paul Bunyan Trophy replica (only to be displayed if Michigan wins). 

The picks: 

CHRIS BALAS: This shouldn’t be anything more than a speed bump — but you just never know in this game. It’s time to make a statement, though, and take the rivalry back. 

“No more bull@#$.”  Michigan 38, Michigan State 13

JOHN BORTON: Jim Harbaugh has bigger fish to fry. This time around, he’ll have the oil boiling, and won’t turn down the heat.

One of these teams is headed for 11-0 and a date for swimming with sharks. The other, 5-7 and a $95-Million Man herding minnows. Michigan 38, Michigan State 17

CLAYTON SAYFIE: This game could go a number of different ways, but the overwhelming majority of the scenarios end with a Michigan victory over the in-state foe. The Wolverines will get the Spartans’ best shot, and while they’re healthier after the return of safety Xavier Henderson and defensive tackle Jacob Slade, and looked improved with Jacoby Windmon at linebacker, the home team has more talent and is focused on winning another championship. 

Michigan should be able to run the ball but also exploit a weak Spartan secondary, and the Wolverines’ defense has enough horses to push MSU around up front and get to quarterback Payton Thorne. Behind another electric crowd at The Big House, Michigan gets it done and moves to 8-0 with humble hearts. Michigan 39, Michigan State 13

ANTHONY BROOME: Michigan set four goals ahead of the 2022 season: Beat Michigan State, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten and win the national title. That makes Saturday’s tilt for the Paul Bunyan Trophy the first chance to achieve what is in front of them. All of the cliches apply here. Throw the records out, the Michigan game is Sparty’s Super Bowl, etc. No matter what is on the line, the Wolverines always get MSU’s best shot. It’s about time the favor was repaid.

The Wolverines have to avoid silly stuff and uncharacteristic mistakes. MSU is 0-4 this season when it does not force multiple turnovers in a game. Michigan has only turned the ball over 4 times all season. One would think that MSU is going to throw the kitchen sink at the Wolverines to stop the run. They are going to dare J.J. McCarthy to beat them with the big mistake from last year’s game in the back of everyone’s minds.

I expect this one to be close, perhaps even a bit uncomfortable for about 2.5 quarters before everyone settles in and Michigan’s offensive line takes over.

Paul comes home. Michigan 45, MSU 24

DOUG SKENE: “Upset is in the minds of the favorite”, said Bo Schembechler many times.  Michigan has the emotional edge with the sour taste of losing still in their mouths from last year’s game.  

The recipe is simple — smash the ball down their throats and then do it again and again.  Michigan’s defense needs to knock Thorne to the ground and keep his deep ball chances to a minimum.  

This one should be violent. Michigan 31, MAC 17