Michigan St. has established themselves as the best team in their division for a little while already, but yesterday they turned it up a notch. Right now, they look like a lock for the Big Ten Championship game where they will very likely meet Ohio State. And Michigan St. looks exactly like the team that could end the Buckeyes winning streak, currently the longest in all of college football.
Michigan St. not Michigan will be the biggest thorn in the side of OSU this year, and their possible barrier to entry to the national title game. Dantonio’s Spartans battered their biggest rivals the Wolverines for the full 60 minutes Saturday, and No. 22 Michigan St. remained unbeaten in the Big Ten with a 29-6 victory over the No. 21 Wolverines.
“Little Sister” was sacked seven times and finished with minus-48 yards rushing, the worst output in the Ann Arbor program’s lengthy history. Remember the Wolverines have been playing since 1823 or 1745 or something like that. Although they’ve turned mediocre lately as UM is 18-18 in their last 36 Big Ten games.
Michigan St. (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) has won five of the last six meetings with the Wolverines (6-2, 2-2), and this was the Spartans’ most lopsided win in the series since 1967.
Michigan’s previous low point for rushing was in 1962, when the Wolverines were held to minus-46 yards by Minnesota. The Wolverines have now lost 10 straight road games against ranked opponents — the last victory was in 2006 at Notre Dame. The last team to be held to minus-48 yards rushing was actually Michigan St., which had exactly that total against Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl.
State held vastly overrated Michigan QB Devin Gardner to 18 carries for -46 rushing yards. So much for his “dual threat.” But again, Michigan St. teams are known for hard nosed defense. And great rebounding…Tom Izzo likes to…oh, wait, we’re talking about Michigan St. football now? But it’s November, that’s college basketball season. And we’re speaking about East Lansing.
Well, Michigan St. hoops looks really good too, as they’re ranked #2 in both preseason polls. However, that will have to take a backseat for now as the football Spartans are kicking major ass and taking all the names.
Shilique Calhoun led the way for the Michigan St. defense yesterday, by getting the most key sacks. However, Denicos Allen played a helmet sticker worthy game too. Don’t forget about Marcus Rush, who has the best name ever for a DL. And if you’re buying NFL Draft stock, you should pick up some Darqueze Denard, I’d much rather prefer him over Bradley Roby as a corner prospect.
And Mr. Spartans himself, Max Bullough should go in the later rounds. The linebacker deserves to be a first day pick, but doesn’t fit at position that NFL teams draft in the first couple rounds.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the world; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS