Michigan State University soundly defeats the University of Michigan in East Lansing on Saturday

Michigan State Spartans thumped the Wolverines from the University of Michigan 29 -6 and it could have been much worse if the Spartans would have been daring in the 1st half of play.  The Spartans won the for the 5th time in the last 6 years against their in state rivals.  In front of 76,306 fans in the grey drizzly day at Spartan Stadium the Wolverines could not generate any offense at all against the number 1 defensive unit in the NCAA. 

The Spartans traded field goals in the first half and pushed in a touchdown to take a 13-6 lead into the locker room.  The defensive came up with big play after big play in the 1st half to keep Michigan quarterback on the run for his life.  The Wolverines struggled all day just to move the ball and kept punting to the Spartans with great field possession all day long.  The field got wet with a constant drizzle most of the late fall afternoon in East Lansing.  Even with the cold and damp weather it didn't keep the Spartan faithful from celebrating in the evening hours after one of the biggest wins in Spartan history over the Wolverines.  Michigan drew some unsportsmanlike penalities being frustrated by the lack of progress against the Spartans.  Most in attendance expected a much closer contest.

Devin Gardner was sacked on three straight plays late in the 3rd quarter when they actually were driving down to the red zone.   It even took them out of field goal range.   Michigan would end up with -48 yards rushing on the afternoon because of the 7 sacks that the MSU defense registered. 

The Spartans completely out manned the Wolverines on this day and moved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten.  The University of Michigan who had struggled to get to 6-1 before the game fell to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play.  Michigan State now has a bye week before it travels to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers who sit at 6-2 and 3-1 in the Big Ten.  The Wolverines will limp home to take on the Cornhuskers on Saturday November 9th at Michigan Stadium.   The Wolverines now have their backs against the wall and will have to win their remaining 4 games to have an outside chance of landing a good bowl game.   
The next four weeks of Big Ten play will be very interesting.