2017 Michigan gameday #5: vs. Michigan State

Blue and Joe, MGoBlog

It's early October and I got to wear shorts today as the high climbed into the 80s.  That makes me a very happy camper--the old gridiron cliche of "football weather" never worried me much, and I promise we'll get plenty of that soon enough.

Still, it's a great day for the sport, not to mention a matchup that sees Michigan's number one two three rival Michigan State head to Ann Arbor for an ill-advised evening tilt.  I mean, people get rowdy enough when they haven't had about seven extra hours to "pre-game", and that's before taking into account the folks in East Lansing, who've never met a couch they didn't burn.

For the Spartans, this is the date that's circled on the calendar every year--MSU's Super Bowl, the game where they deploy the entire arsenal (and then some) as they furiously try to shake off the "Little Brother" moniker (famously bestowed upon them by Mike Hart) by...completely obsessing over the more relevant in-state team with a series record of 69-35-5.

For Michigan this game offers a chance of reaching 5-0 and continuing conference play with an unblemished record.  It's also an opportunity to see what they've got in backup-turned-starting QB John O'Korn, a guy who jumpstarted the relatively stagnant offense after coming on in relief of injured starter Wilton Speight two weeks ago at Purdue.  And finally, it gives fans across the country another look at DC Don Brown's ferocious defense, a group that surely spent the bye week filling up on milk and steak to refuel for this matchup.

Come 7:30 the Wolverines will be back to work against their #1 (in-state) rival as they look to add another win to the record books, something that would make a very nice present for birthday boy Charles Woodson (41 years young today), a guy who knew a thing or two about beating State...

...in some cases, one hand at a time. 

Take care of business and let old Paul Bunyan stay where he's nice and comfortable.

Let's.

Go.

Blue.