Make Your Pick: Michigan vs. Michigan State

Michigan is expected to roll once again...this time in East Lansing.

Michigan has been dominant this season and everyone expects that to continue this week in East Lansing. Usually this rivalry game has so much intrigue even if one team is considered better than the other. The stereotypes usually hold true — throw out the records, rankings don't matter, etc. — but this weekend feels different. Michigan State feels like a rudderless ship, while Michigan is a well-oiled machine marching toward a national title. Because of that, Michigan is favored by a whopping 24.5 points. Here's how we see it playing out...

Chris Breiler

Don't let recent news of the NCAA investigation distract you from reality. The Michigan Wolverines could literally leave their entire coaching staff at home for this one and the result would be the same. The Spartans are completely overmatched on both sides of the ball, and something tells me the Wolverines are going to play angry on Saturday night.

Michigan 56, Michigan State 3

Brandon Brown

Usually there's a feeling for this game. Even if Michigan is viewed as the better team, somehow, someway Sparty has a way of making U-M fans nervous. That is simply not there this year. Michigan State doesn't have the talent, discipline or guidance to make this one a game. If the Spartans load up to take away the run, JJ McCarthy is going to slice them up through the air. If MSU tries to play it straight, Blake Corum and the other backs should be able to eat. Expect U-M's offensive line to have its way and expect the Wolverine defense to make Katin Houser's day extremely long. I just don't think Michigan State is very good and I expect the Wolverines to point that out all day long. I don't think tomorrow's matchup is going to look much different than when Michigan took on Rutgers, Nebraska and Minnesota. 

Michigan 45, Michigan State 10

Trent Knoop

The timing of another off the field scandal involving Michigan could be a huge deal if it was playing Penn State or Ohio State. The focus of the players could go two different ways: let it affect them and be down, or it could light a fuel and the Wolverines will want to play even harder for Jim Harbaugh. I think the second option will happen, and even if Michigan is a little down after more negative news coming out about the program, the Wolverines are still much more talented than MSU. Michigan State has a good run defense, but the Spartans offense is not good and the Wolverines’ defense should force a couple of turnovers and get their offense rolling for a third game in a row. I like Michigan big here.

Michigan 45, Michigan State 13