4 8 - Friday, October 14, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 'M' defense tasked with slowing diverse Spartan offense By STEPHENJ. NESBITT Daily Sports Editor Something in the East Lan- sing air changes during Michigan week. At Spartan Stadium, the shoes are laced up a little tighter and the pads crack a little harder, as the Michigan State football team's intensity picks up. During the Spartan Marching Band's rehearsals next door on Dem Field, the fight song's stac- cato strain, "Go right through for MSU," shifts to, "Smash right through that line of blue." By Saturday's kickoff, the city reaches a fever pitch to welcome the 11th-ranked Wolverines. And once the teams take the field in front of 75,000-plus fans in East Lansing on Saturday, it's that "line of blue" - Michigan's defensive line - that will have the toughest task in the rivalry game. No. 23 Michigan State (1-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall) boasts an offen- ine defense. When the Spartans visited Ann Arbor last seasdn, they trampled over Michigan's front line, rush- ing for 249 yards and three touch- downs. Coming off a shared Big Ten Championship season in 2010, even with a weak offensive line, Michigan State will pound the line of scrimmage. Michigan coach Brady Hoke expects nothing less. "They're going to be physical up front, they're going to run the power, they're going to run the outside stretch play," Hoke said on Monday. "The three backs are all really capable of hurting you." Michigan's defense has been notoriously bad in first halves this season, but spectacular in the second half. The Wolverines (2-0, 6-0) have allowed 54 first-half points and just 21 in the second half. Against the Spartans, that inconsistency won't work. It starts with stoppingthe run. "That's what a great defense is built on," Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said on Tuesday. "You can measure a defense on how they stop the run in my mind. "We'll get challenged. That's what it's going to be. They can throw it, too. It's not like we can put 10 guys up there (on the line). This is going to be another test." The Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game was named the Davey O'Brien National Quarter- back Award Marquee Matchup of the Week, pitting Cousins against Michigan junior quarterback Denard Robinson. "(Cousins) was good last year," Mattison said. "I think he's really good this year. ... Anybody that wins as many games as he's won, you're a good quarterback." After watching film, Mattison determined Cousins's favorite target, senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, is "a big-time wide receiver" with NFL-type talent. Cousins and Cunningham have connected 38 times this season, averaging 116 yards per game. Michigan's secondary had its tune-up for Cunningham when Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd collected 159 yards in the second game of the season. But during Michigan week, anything can happen. Over in East Lansing, the final change falls into place. On Dem Field, the march- ing band makes one last fight-song alteration in the line, "See, their team is weakening." "Michigan is weakening, we're going to win this game," the Spar- tan brass chant. "Fight. Fight.Rah, team, fight. Victory for MSU." After never beating the Spar- tans, Michigan's seniors have one last chance to topple them on Sat- urday. And it's the defense's job to force the rivalry back in the Wolverines' favor. Until then, the Paul Bunyan Trophy, given to the winner of the annual rivalry game, will rest in East Lansing with the Spartan victors. 4 4 Senior defensive linemen Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen have yet to beat Michigan State, and they will play a crucial role at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. sive corps - headlined by senior per game. And three highly-tout- quarterback Kirk Cousins - with ed running backs - sophomore big-play potential across the LeVeon Bell and juniors Edwin board. Baker and Larry Caper - will be The passing attack ranks sec- prowling in the backfield, eager to and in the Big Ten; with 269 yards make it a long day for the Wolver- STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers do their best to predict, against the spread, what Michael happens in the 2011 football season. Florek No.11Michigan at No. 23 Michigan State(-3) No.1 LSU(-t5) at Tennessee No. 2 Alabama (-23) at Ole Miss No. 3 Oklahoma (-31.5) at Kansas No. 4 Wisconsin (-38) vs. Indiana No. 5 Boise State(-32)at Colorado State No. 6 Oklahoma State (-5.5) at No. 22 Texas No. 7 Stanford(-20) atWashington State No. 58Clemson (-8) at Maryland No. 9 Ore)on (-5)us. No o 10Arina State No. 12 Georgia Tech (45)S at Vinginia No.15 South Carolina (-5) at MississippiState N. 16 Illinois (-35) us. Ohio State No.17 Kansas State atTexas Tech (-3.5) No.19 Virgiina Tech (-7) at Wake Forest No. 20 Baylor at No. 21 Texas A&M (-9.5) No. 24 Aubutn (-1) vs. Florida Purdueat Penn State 3) Norhwesternsatowa- This Week Alabama Oklahoma Wisconsin Boise State Oklahoma State Stanford Maryland Oregon Georgia Tech South Carolina Illinois Kansas State Virginia Tech Baylor Auburn P-nn State Iowa Alabama Oklahoma Indiana Boise State Oklahoma State Stanfor d Clemson Oregon Georgia Tech South Carolina Illinois Kansas State Virginia Tech Baylor Auburn Penn State Northwestern 18-5 Kevin Raftery Michigan Louisiana State Alabama Oklahoma Wisconsin Boise State Ta ca Washington State Maryland Oregon Virginia South Carolina Ohio Statn Texas Tech Wake Forest Baylor Florida Northwsten 16-73 90-61-3 Tim Rohan Michigan Louisiana State Alabama Oklahoma Wisconsin Boise State Oklahoma Sat Stanford Clemson Oregon Geongia Tech Mississippi State Ilinois Kansas State Virginia Tech Baylor Auburn Penn Slate 14-9 96-55-3 Sam Sedlecky, Maize Rage President Alabama Oklahoma Wisconsin Boise State Tnnas Stanford Clemson Arizona State Georgia Tech South Carolina Ohio State Kansas State Virginia Tech Baylor Auburn Penn State Northwester 16-7 55-32-1 a I 4