When Michigan State takes the short 65 mile drive to the Big House, there is going to be more on the line than just the Paul Bunyan-Governor of Michigan Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the game between the Wolverines and the Spartans.

The storylines are abundant in this interstate rivalry game between the 17^th ranked Spartans and the 18^th ranked Wolverines.  This is the first time they’ve both been ranked in the top 25 since 2003.

Michigan State is trying to win three straight games against the Wolverines which would be the longest winning streak they’ve enjoyed in the series since 1965-67.

U of M holds a comfortable series lead at 67-30-5. What makes this game so much more intriguing is that nobody in the preseason expected this to happen.  The only team from the state of Michigan that had votes in the Associated Press preseason poll was Central Michigan.  The Spartans only play one more team ranked in the top 25. If they could top Michigan at the Big House they could possibly win or share their first Big Ten Title since 1990.

If you haven’t heard yet, U of M has the most electrifying player in college Football. Denard Robinson or the “Nard Dog” continues to dominate opposing defenses. He has already become the first player to twice rush and pass for more than 200 yards in a regular season game in the same season. He needs only 95 rushing yards to top 1,000 for the season and 87 to eclipse 2,000 total yards.

To put that into perspective only six players last year passed for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for more than 900 yards. Robinson has already achieved that feat in only 5 games.  He is a one man wrecking crew whose duel threat ability has made him the early Heisman favorite in everyone’s eyes.  With all that said when you turn your eyes to the other side of the ball you see one of the worst defenses in all of college football.

Michigan is ranked 102nd nationally in total defense (433.6 yards);  They are 73rd in scoring defense (25.4); and are 37th in rush defense (125.8 yards) and dead last  and in pass defense (307.8 yards)  Michigan is coming off a 42-35 victory at Indiana last week, a game in which the Hoosiers passed for 480 yards.

Coach Rodriguez said, “I don’t have to look at them to know where our problems are. We have to play better. Some of the problems didn’t happen overnight and won’t be solved overnight, no matter what we do. Some of them we’ve got to try to solve in a hurry and get as good as we can be and the rest of it, we will solve as time goes on.”

The Defense will be tested with the well rounded Spartans who are coming off a great win at home against Wisconsin.

The Spartans are led by their well balanced passing and rushing attack.  Kirk Cousins is their steady leader at QB who averages 225 yards through the air.  There two main feature backs are Edwin Baker and surprise freshman sensation Le’Veon  Bell.  The pair of halfbacks have run for a combined 1007 yards.  Their defense is ranked 41^st in total defense giving up 328.60 a game

Five Keys of the Game

1.      The Denard Robinson factor: Can Denard continue to have his way with opposing defenses.   This will be his biggest test yet, because Michigan State has a solid LB core led by All-American Greg Jones.  Robinson must limit the times he is hit so he doesn’t get worn down in this shootout style game.

2 . Turnover margin: Like everything else in his game,  Denard takes very good care of the ball.  Since he touches it every snap Michigan’s offense is in good hands.  The Wolverines defense must win the turnover battle if they want to win this game.  Their young and inexperienced and will give up a ton of yards to Michigan State’s balanced offense but they must make a few big plays to end drives and put their offense back on the field.

3. The Big House: This is the first true road game for the Spartans since they played against Florida Atlantic at Ford Field.  The atmosphere will be electric and you can’t simulate 113,000 screaming fans.  Michigan needs to score early and often to keep the crowd in the game. I think the home crowd will provide the extra motivation the Wolverines need to get over the hump in this even matchup. Rich Rod is 2-6 at Big House vs. Big Ten foes. This should be a major emphasis of change now that he has such a potent offense.

4. Special Teams: Michigan must limit big returns in the Kick and Punt Return game by State. Keshawn Martin had a 74 Yd Punt Return against Wisconsin in the 2^nd quarter that really set the tone in the first half VS Wisconsin. Michigan’s kicking has been awful this year making only 1-5 field goals.  If opportunity knocks they better answer the call and do their job. Michigan State has a reliable field-goal kicker in Dan Conroy so if the game is decided by 3 points edge goes to State.

5. Intangibles of a Rivalry Game. Spartans pulled one off against Notre Dame with the fake field goal that went for a touchdown to win the game.  Mark Dantonio will be coaching in the press box after missing two games; this should give State an emotional lift heading into the game.  Spartans only play one more team ranked in the top 25 (at Iowa) If they win they could possibly win their first Big Ten Title since 1990.

I’m taking the Wolverines at home 35-31 in the game of the week.

Gameday might be at South Carolina watching the Gamecocks get stomped on by Alabama but this will be the true game of the week.  I think you need to score over 35 points to beat the Wolverines and I think State gives them a great shot, but the Nard Dog prevails with another huge game that keeps the hype rolling on his Heisman status.

Like many Michiganders this Saturday has been long awaited.  The weather is supposed to be 70 and gorgeous. There will be two good football teams battling in one of College Football’s great stadiums.

What could possibly dampen such a great event?

I know ABC could hire Matt Millen to do the color commentary on the game.

Used with permission of the author.

Mateo Ferda is a Detroit-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Week Two of the college football season is over and we learned a very important lesson: we know nothing about college football. The media and fans can talk all they want and make prediction after prediction, but it means nothing going into the rest of the season. Myself included.

The flip of performances displayed on Saturday was more impressive than the Dos Equis man’s passport. To prove it, lets take a review of some of this weekend’s games.

After coming within seconds of beating No 3 Boise State last Monday, No.13 Virginia Tech was shocked at home by the James Madison Bulldogs 21-16. It was the first time in 20 years that JMU beat an FBS school and it basically just proved what we all already know; the number 13 is unlucky… and Virginia Tech isn’t that good.

The good news is that the Hokies (0-2) won’t be ranked after this loss, so there’s no need to worry about that number jinx anymore.

Speaking of Bulldogs, the ones from Georgia couldn’t find the endzone all day after scoring 55 last week and speaking of jinxes, a week ago I predicted that a Heisman-candidate quarterback would be playing in the Florida State game. Well, I was right; I just guessed the wrong guy. Christian Ponder was completely out shined by Landry Jones and the Sooners who put up 47 points against a Seminoles team that had more missed tackles than points.

This was the same Oklahoma team that squeaked by Utah State in their opener and looked very weak defensively. Well they certainly flexed their muscles against FSU on Saturday. Maybe Christian Ponder should have done what he did last week… only play one half of the game. Final in this one was 47-17.

Sorry for jinxing you Christian. My next prediction is that OU will go undefeated. Let the hex begin!

Another Heisman hopeful is No. 12 Miami Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris. Unfortunately for Jacory, he played No. 2 Ohio State this week and was on the downside of a 36-24 score. Jacoby threw away some early season Heisman votes with every interception. He now has 4 less votes.

What was projected to be a great offensive game turned into a special teams show and an unfair quarterback matchup. Miami returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns, but couldn’t get anything started on offense. Sloppy play and misfiring haunted the Hurricanes, while Terrelle Pryor looked calm and collected sitting behind the shotgun.

If this weekend taught us that we know nothing, then Denard Robinson taught us that the Michigan Wolverines are back. The dreadlocked Michigan quarterback lit up Notre Dame compiling 502 yards of total offense, including 258 on the ground, both of which were record breakers and led his team to a 28-24 win. Denard is a record-breaking machine who may be saving Rich-Rod’s head coaching gig at Michigan.  

For those of you who were not fortunate enough to watch this spectacle, just picture Lil Wayne with the skill set of Ricky Williams, who also has the ability to throw the pigskin.

The real shocker though is that Notre Dame almost won. With their starting QB Dayne Crist out for most of the first half due to an injury, the Fighting Irish were one throw away from pulling off the victory. The Irish managed to stay in the game regardless how bad walk-on Nate Montana, yeah Joe Montana’s son, played with Crist on the sidelines. This game was a gut-wrencher; everything a football fan could ask for, unless you’re a Notre Dame fan.

Another game deserves at least a quick honorable mention. No. 15 Georgia Tech decided not to show up with their best and were upset by unranked Kansas 28-25.

Conference play starts next week for the majority of the nation, so get ready for some in-state rivalry and a few upsets. Let’s see if Virginia Tech can beat an undefeated East Carolina at home. Get your beer ready, it’s tailgating season.

More NCAA:

Denard Robinson is a Record-Breaking Machine – Sports Climax 

Gamecocks Send Bulldogs Packing 17-6 – Sports Climax

Sexy NCAA Climax Girl of the Week (photo) – Sports Climax

Used with permission of the author.

Logan Rhoades is a Los Angeles-based writer and contributor to Sports Climax. With an extensive knowledge of ESPN topics and celebrity gossip, he is known for mixing sports and pop culture to entertain his readers. Check out his blog and Follow him on Twitter @loganrhoades.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Denard Robinson has become a record-setting machine just two weeks into the NCAAF season.

The Michigan Wolverines quarterback started the season setting a team single-game quarterback rushing record with 197 yards on the ground, leading his Maize and Blue to an opening 30-10 win over U Conn.

This week the speedy QB did it again, breaking his one-week old record gaining 258 yards on 28 carries, including an 87-yard sprint for a first-quarter touchdown.

BTW, that 87-yard jaunt was another record.

It happened to be the longest rushing TD in the long history of Notre Dame Stadium. How impressive is that? The Irish have been playing ball in that stadium since 1930.

If that wasn’t enough, the QB known as “Shoelaces” lined up on 4^th and long and dropped a quick kick inside the 4-yardline late in the third, pinning the Irish deep in their end. He also connected on 24-of-40 passes for 244 yards and one TD and added two more TDs on the ground.

Not only was Robinson lighting up the stats sheet. He also orchestrated a 72-yard game-winning touchdown drive over 3:14 late in the final quarter to come back and earn the Wolverines (2-0) a 28-24 win on the road.

Clearly not a one-week wonder, you have to think Denard should begin to be recognized in the chase for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.

Next week it’s the Massachusetts Minutemen’s turn to chase Shoelaces around the field while Notre Dame (1-1) travels to Michigan State.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC