Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Noon, the Michigan Wolverines will play their first road game of the season against in state rival, the Michigan State Spartans.

The Wolverines enter the game with an overall record of 4 and 0, going 1 and 0 so far in the Big-10.  The Spartans are 0 and 1 in division and 1 and 3 overall.  The Wolverines lead in the points for category, scoring 150 points, to State’s 131.  They also lead in the points against column, allowing only 91 points against to the Spartans 103.

Michigan’s pass defense will be tested this week, as the Spartans are 9th in the country with 325 passing yards per game.  The Wolverines are ranked 8th in the country with slightly over 240 yards per game on the ground.

This will be true freshman Tate Forcier’s first road test without the “Big House” crowd behind him.  I expect Forcier to fair well, as he already showed us in two of his first four games, he as no problem taking his offense down field to win games with time running out in the 4th quarter with the game on the line.  You can’t create any more pressure than those situations and are great stepping stones for the young QB.

Michigan State won last years battle in Ann Arbor, 35 to 21, October 25, 2008.  Michigan has won the last three at Michigan State, and lead the overall series 67-29-5.

The current line on the game according to BetUS.com has the Wolverines as 2 point favorites with the over at 57 1/2.

This again will be a big test for Forcier, which I expect him to pass.  Michigan’s Defense has had a problem consistently making stops against opposing offenses, expect when necessary.  I do not see that issue changing this week as much as I would like it to.  The Wolverines cover 34 to 31.

Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@ProFootballinsight.net

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