Michigan State Systematically Pounds Michigan

Michigan State is developing a habit of beating Michigan and the Spartans stayed true to form on Saturday in East Lansing, routing the Wolverines  35-11. It was the sixth time in seven tries that Sparty has walked off the field victorious over their in-state rival that once dominated the series.

The Spartans used a three-pronged approach to systematically dismantle Michigan and the Wolverines were left without answers against all three phases as they never really had a chance against the No. 8 team in the nation. Here’s how MSU beat Michigan on Saturday and put themselves on a collision course with Ohio State.

Suffocating Defense

Defense wins championships and Michigan State is well on their way to another Big Ten title. The Spartans held Michigan to just 186 total yards and kept them to just a 2.3 yard average on 28 rushing attempts. The Spartans sacked Devin Gardner two times, tallied two interceptions as well, and held the Michigan quarterback below a 50% completion percentage.

Non-Offensive Scoring

Anytime you can get points while your offense is on the sideline it’s a bonus. That’s exactly what RJ Williamson provided when he stepped in front of a Gardner pass and ran the interception back 29 yards for a touchdown.

“This is a play that will be remembered for a long time and there will be a lot of highlights from that play,” Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said in regards to Williamson’s pick-six.

It was the first score of the second half and it was a backbreaker that put the Spartans up 21-3, a seemingly insurmountable advantage given the struggles of the Michigan offense.

A Ground And Pound Offensive Attack

Connor Cook threw for 227 yards and had a 70-yard touchdown pass to Tony Lippett in the third quarter, but the success of this game was squarely on the legs of senior Jeremy Langford. Doing everything for Michigan State’s offensive attack, Langford caught a pass for 18 yards but also carried the ball 35 times for 177 yards and, most importantly, three scores.

The win keeps Michigan State alive in the hunt for one of four playoff spots with their date against Ohio State in two weeks looming large. That game will most likely determine the division champion and put the winner in position to make a statement for the playoff.

For Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, that hot seat he’s been sitting on got even warmer as he’s now lost three of his four tries against Michigan State. His date with the Ohio State Buckeyes late next month could be the game that seals his fate.

*Section Photo credit to Duane Burleson, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Raj Mehta, USA Today Sports

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