Michigan State Spartans (6-2, 3-1) at Michigan Wolverines (2-5, 1-2)

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST at Michigan Stadium

Line: Michigan State -4

Enough with all the trash talk, let's get the 101st version of the Backyard Brawl going and we have a newcomer this year in first year Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

This does not bode well for the Wolverines as only one newcomer has won this game and it was Nick Saban in 1995 when both Saban and Lloyd Carr were rookie coaches so someone had to win.

But Rodriguez and current Spartans coach Mark Dantonio have squared off before when both were coaches in the Big East. Rodriguez won both matches in '05 and '06 in decided fashion dominating the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Rodriguez seems to have embraced the rivalry in newspaper reports going so far as to say that "you'd have to be clueless to not understand the rivalry."

It's going to be tough this year even though Michigan holds a six game winning streak over MSU. Like I've been saying the past couple weeks, teams like MSU are due to get a win against the Wolverines.

This year is Michigan States best chance to get that win and for the first time since 1990 get a win at the Big House.

Spartan fans know it too as evidenced by all the trash talk coming out of their mouths this week. Just take a look at my column "Michigan Dominance Over "Little Brother"" from a couple days ago and read the comments.

This game could go either way though. Michigan State should come out psyched and give the Wolverines its best shot but then again this is just the type of team Michigan loves facing off against.

Let's take a look at the matchups....

Michigan Pass Offense vs. Michigan State Pass Defense

Steven Threet is expected to play Saturday after re-aggravating his injured elbow against Penn State last week.

He said that when it's aggravated his whole arm goes numb and he can't grip the ball which really worries me that it'll happen again and Nick Sheridan aka "Human White Flag" will come in.

If Michigan has any hope of winning this game Rodriguez cannot put Sheridan in the game. I'd rather see David Cone come in if he's still uncomfortable putting Justin Feagin in the game.

Threet's passing efficiency is 107.81 compared to "Human White Flag's" 82.05. The Wolverines cannot afford to see Sheridan in the game.

Michigan State's passing defense hasn't been too impressive ranking 71st in the country allowing 213 yards per game and 6.22 yards per attempt.

Senior safety Otis Wiley leads the Spartans with four interceptions and seven pass breakups. MSU has nine interceptions and 13 sacks this season so they're more than capable.

Wiley will most likely be shadowing Martavious Odoms or Greg Matthews who are only real threats in the receiving corps.

Kevin Koger has been emerging as a pretty good tight end and from what I understand James Rogers will see more playing time, probably over Toney Clemons.

Dan Fortener is another Spartan to watch out for in the secondary. He has two interceptions and five pass breakups.

If "Human White Flag" enters the game expect MSU to eat him alive much like Penn State did.

Advantage: Michigan State

Michigan Run Offense vs. Michigan State Run Defense

I said last week that if Michigan had success on the ground they'd have a chance to upset Penn State.

Well the same applies this week although this time Michigan has a better chance to sustain that success.

Michigan State is ranked 69th in rushing defense allowing 145 yards per game and 4.39 per carry while Michigan has the 66th ranked rush offense getting 140.8 yards per game and 3.85 per game.

Rodriguez finally realized Brandon Minor was his best back last week and sparingly used Sam McGuffie.

McGuffie goes down too fast on first contact but if he gets into open space then watch out. Same thing with Minor only Minor can push through and get extra yards on short yardage situations.

Michigan State's leading tackler is sophomore linebacker Greg Jones who has 65 tackles and eight for a loss.

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