16 -7 Thy Michigan Daily - Friday, September 25, 1998 On Saturday, MATCHUPS Continued from Page 13 it has'to be Michigan State's. The Spartans rank 10th among conference teams in pass defense (just ahead of you-know-who), thanks in part to the Amp Campbell's season-ending injury. Brady's got several options, which helps his cause. Jerame Tuman seems ready for a breakout game, Tai Streets should be healthy after a mild ankle sprain and freshman David Terrell emerged last week as a defi- nite threat. Marcus Knight and Marquise Walker will line up wide as well. Combine that with Thomas and Williams catching passes out of the backfield, and Michigan looks to be in pretty good shape. And if all else fails, the Wolverines can always turn to Drew Henson. MICHIGAN STATE RUSHING GAME VS. MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE: This one's easy. Michigan's linebackers are ailing. Clint Copenhaver, Sam Sword and Ian Gold have all missed time in recent weeks. How long will they hold up against the Spartans'? Nobody knows. Actually, Lloyd Carr might know, but he's certainly not telling anyone. Technically, his defense is "banged up." PHOTO That leaves Michigan's down lineman to contend en- -with Sedrick Irvin. Irvin may be overrated, but he's at least comparable to Autry Denson, who ran all over the Wolverines. Wolverines have overall edge. Irvin just might do the same. Look for him to get a full day's work - probably in the range of 30 carries. EDGE: MICHIGAN STATE MICHIGAN STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: Bill Burke should thank his lucky stars. If there's one defensive backfield he'd want to start off the Big Ten season against (other than his own, of course) it has to be Michigan's. Sound familiar? The Wolverines rank dead last in this category in the Big Ten, and that ranking might even be generous. The biggest surprise of the season has been Michigan's inability to stop the pass. Even against middle-of-the-MAC team Eastern Michigan, they surrendered well more than 300 yards through the air. Cornerback Andre Weathers, projected as an all-Big Ten pick before the season, has struggled, to say the least. At the other corner, James Whitley has done the same. Safety Marcus Ray, of course, will be watching the game with Charles Woodson and some buddies. Now, Bill Burke's struggles have been well-docu- mented, but he seemed to find a comfort zone against Notre Dame. The Spartans' version of Drew Henson, freshman Ryan VanDyke, looked ready to step in until a shoulder sprain set him back. He still is less than 100-percent for this weekend's game. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress, though, could be State's next big-time game breaking wideout, and if the past three weeks are any indication, he'll likely have his way with Michigan's defensive backs. EDGE: MICHIGAN STATE SPECIAL TEAMS: With the addition of superkicker Hayden Epstein, the Wolverines' kicking game got a shot in the arm (or leg?). Undoubtedly, the status of this area has improved since week one's debacle. Punter Jason Vinson's athleticism has salvaged more than a few shaky snaps, and if Justin Fargas is really as fast as he's supposed to be, the Wolverines may be due for someone to break one on a kick return. The Spartans, though, have Irvin to return punts. And with Michigan's potential for disaster in all aspects of the special teams game (See Notre Dame, Sept. 12), that's enough to even this one out. EDGE: EVEN INTANGIBLES: If there's one place where the Spartans' inferiority complex actually helps them, it's on the football field. History shows that a slight edge in talent can easi- ly be overcome by a fired-up Michigan State team with something to prove. It doesn't, however, trump a fired-up Michigan team with something to prove. Both teams are 1-2. Both need this game - a lot. Michigan's just a little bit better. EDGE: MICHIGAN FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 28, MICHIGAN STATE 24 FILEF Michigan tailback Clarence Williams will have to deal with Michigan State deft sive end Robaire Smith on Saturday. Beyond that, the Michigan running game should flourish against the Michigan State defensive line. THE MATCHUPS MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE PASSING DEFENSE Brady's got too many receivers to not exploit a secondary still reeling from the loss of Amp Campbell. Look for Jerame Tuman to have a breakout game. Edge: Michigan MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN STATE RUSHING DEFENSE Robaire Smith is good, but Michigan is just too deep in the backfield. Edge: Michigan MICHIGAN STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE Bill Burke made a statement with his performance against Notre Dame two weeks ago. And with Marcus Ray out, Michigan's secondary isn't getting any better. Edge: Michigan State MICHIGAN STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE Sedrick Irvin should get around 30 carries against a hurting Michigan defense. I Edge: Michigan State P, SPECIAL TEAMS If someone breaks a long return, the game could hang in the balance. Edge: Even L4 A Kj M ,,'" INTANGIBLES In all honesty, the breakdown doesn't matter much for this game. Once the teams are on the field, anything can happen. Edge: Michigan PREDICTION: MICHIGAN 28, MICHIGAN STATE 24 Graphicsby Alex Hogg THE 'CITY' MATCHUPS CITIZENRY A2 Ann Arbor has intellectuals, writers, engineers, doctors and Shakey Jake. Michigan State has sheep. Edge: Ann Arbor CAMPUS A2 Michigan's campus is snug, highly forested and serene. Michigan State's campus has a river, plenty of land, sheep excrement and pleasant, soothing couch fires. Edge: Ann Arbor PARTY SCENES Whatever Ann Arbor has, there ain't no party like a couch-burning party, because a couch-burning party don't stop. Edge: East Lansing East Lansing, TAILGATING A2 Ohhhh, so sorry. No more tailgating at Munn Field. Edge: Ann Arbor 0 ----------------------------------------------------------- FORMER COACHES A2 Michigan State has Biggie Munn. Mir.hidan he Pn C-hmhorhlr whn rennrterIlu ats ' . ~ " i i y k 1.