I've been analyzing (definitely over analyzing) the match-up coming up Saturday between Michigan State and Michigan and I have to say... I know they're both highly ranked, I know they have both over-performed in comparison to their projections pre-season... I'm not impressed...

I'm a firm believer in teams playing who is on their schedule (seems obvious right?), meaning if a team goes 12-0 playing a D1 schedule, then they're 12-0 and you can't fault them if the schedule their athletic department laid out for them wasn't super impressive. 

And really, on paper, both MSU and UM had a decent slate in front of them before the season started, but as I'm about to point out, the teams they played... Just not good...

Let's start with the presumed "little brother," Michigan State... Michigan State's best OOC opponent on paper is Miami (FL). Pre-season they were considered to have some good skill, a fairly solid defense, and a good QB... This have not panned out for Miami and they sit at 3-4 in an ACC that is absolutely a joke.

In total, Michigan State's opponents, FOR THE SEASON SO FAR, are a combined... 19-30... They have played 0... ZERO... teams that have a record of .500 or better. Again, YES, they have outplayed their pre-season projections, and I can't fault them for winning the games that were put on their schedule, but you did not misread that. They have beat 0 teams this season so far with a winning record.

So let's take a look at Michigan. Again, not a horrible schedule on paper... I thought the Washington match-up was intriguing (Washington has made all that intrigue go up in smoke just like their season as they sit at 3-4), yes they scheduled 2 MAC teams in Western Michigan and Northern Illinois... but the players, and even coach booger sucker himself didn't schedule those teams... They played who was presented to them, and they haven't lost. But again... let's take a bit of a dive into who they have beaten.

Michigan opponents at this point in the season are a combined 27-25; albeit more impressive than Michigan State, but 11 of those wins are indeed credited to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois who are both playing a fairly typical MAC schedule with the exception of WM beating Pitt (yep, Pitt with an alleged Heisman front runner at QB) and NI beating Georgia Tech.

That said, I'm taking Michigan to beat Sparty... I don't think it will be a particularly high scoring game... But if you look at the resume I feel like Michigan looks to be just a shade better, however, I don't think it's in any fashion going to be a blowout.

Give me Michigan 26 Sparty 17... Regardless, both teams better be ready to take an ass beating when the Buckeyes take the field against them.