Free Press sports writers share their predictions for Saturday’s game between Michigan football and Michigan State football at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing (7:30 p.m., NBC).
The No. 2 Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) are a 24½-point favorite over the Spartans (2-4, 0-3) in the battle for the coveted Paul Bunyan Trophy.
Tony Garcia
Michigan’s defense will have its ears pinned back against MSU quarterback Katin Houser, who is making his second career start on a team that has turned the ball over quite a bit. That figures to set up favorable field positions for J.J. McCarthy and an offense which has finished at a much higher rate in the red zone than last year, when the Spartans’ defense held strong and forced five field goals to keep the score somewhat close. Though MSU’s defense seems notably improved the past few weeks, it’s hard to see that continuing against the Wolverines. Michigan keeps looking to its national championship, while MSU officially turns its attention toward a national championship chase of its own … in hoops. The pick: U-M 45, MSU 13.
Rainer Sabin
The NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation threatens to cast a pall over Michigan’s season. But it likely won’t have any impact on this game. The undefeated Wolverines are firing on all cylinders while MSU is faltering. The Spartans’ four-game losing streak has only added to the misery in East Lansing, where the scandal that led to Mel Tucker’s ouster has left the program in shambles. Despite all the negativity that has consumed them, the Spartans won’t go down without a fight. Expect them to stay in the game until Michigan eventually overpowers them. The pick: U-M 34, MSU 12.
RAINER SABIN: Sign-stealing allegations cast a pall over Michigan’s triumphant climb
Jeff Seidel
The Wolverines are firing on all cylinders, the Spartans can’t seem to do anything right. Maybe, MSU can keep it closer than expected (for a short time) with emotion and energy and getting a few breaks. The Wolverines did not look great in the first quarter against Indiana. But Michigan just has too much talent, too much momentum — and MSU has neither. The pick: U-M 35, MSU 10.
Chris Solari
There won’t be any letup from the Wolverines after posting at least 45 points in each of their past three games. McCarthy and his running backs open a big early lead, and it snowballs as the Spartans struggle to keep their offense on the field. U-M’s defense makes Houser pay for his mistakes, and the rivals’ paths continue to diverge — the Wolverines continuing their charge to a third straight Big Ten title while the Spartans remain reeling with a fifth straight loss. The pick: U-M 52, MSU 10.
Shawn Windsor
News of another NCAA investigation shouldn’t change what happens on the field much, unless the Wolverines really did need to steal signs. Hey, that’s a low blow. Here’s guessing U-M will be out to make a point, since the NCAA warned MSU what U-M had allegedly been up to. The pick: U-M 34, MSU 16.
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Carlos Monarrez
This one’s going to be ugly. But let’s hope that ugliness is contained to the field, instead of spilling over to the sidelines after the game, like last year. I’d like to believe the Spartans have learned something they can use after blowing late leads the last two weeks in games they could have won. But Michigan is probably the best team in the country and isn’t about to let up, especially against an in-state rival. The pick: U-M 56, MSU 13.
