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What’s at stake in Michigan State’s battle against its archrival?
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What’s at stake in Michigan State’s battle against its archrival?

Michigan State will travel to Ann Arbor this Saturday to take on the Michigan Wolverines. Both teams must win this rivalry game, but many factors will determine who wins and who loses.

The Associated Press expects the crucial matchup will be how Michigan State’s defense performs against Michigan’s struggling offense.

“Michigan’s top game against Michigan State’s defense,” the AP said. “The Wolverines simply cannot throw the ball effectively, giving three quarterbacks a chance to make unsuccessful starts. They will likely try to win by running the ball early and often. The Spartans are giving up 131 yards rushing per game, ranking 12th in the Big Ten and 53rd in the FBS.”

Both teams have players with game-changing skills. Michigan State has already experienced life with and without wide receiver Nick Marsh. The talented receiver was the team’s leading receiver in its two biggest wins of the season. In the Spartans’ upset win over Maryland, Marsh recorded eight receptions for 194 yards. In their win over Iowa last weekend, Marsh had eight catches for 113 yards. He is expected to play an important role in Saturday’s game against the Wolverines.

“(Marsh) was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second time after setting a career-high with eight catches and 113 yards receiving in last week’s win over Iowa,” the AP said. “Marsh is just 58 yards away from breaking Cody White’s true freshman single-season mark of 490 yards in 2017.”

Michigan RB Kalel Mullings has been named the Wolverines’ player to watch. “He will likely carry the heaviest load in a run-heavy offense,” the AP said. “Mullings, who was more effective than Donovan Edwards, leads the team with 676 yards on 110 carries and seven touchdowns. The converted linebacker runs powerfully and surprisingly quickly.”

With both teams sitting at 4-3 this season and needing two wins in the next five games to be bowl eligible, Saturday’s game between the Spartans and Wolverines will undoubtedly impact both teams’ bowl chances have. However, one team has a much more demanding second half of the season than the other.

“Potentially a bowl bid for both teams,” the AP said said. “If the defending champion Wolverines lose, they will likely need to pull off an upset in one of three games against top-ranked Oregon, No. 13 Indiana and No. 4 Ohio State to qualify for the postseason and beat Northwestern at home.” . If the Spartans win, they will be in a good position to get a sixth win, perhaps against Purdue or Rutgers.”

Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook Spartan Nation IF YOU CLICK HEREand also become part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White IF YOU CLICK HERE.

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