Recipe For a Win This Halloween Weekend
Any Michigan fan who’s been watching the battle for Paul Bunyan long enough knows that you can’t trust anything heading into this matchup. From TJ Duckett’s last-second touchdown to the infamous “trouble with the snap” game, this is one rivalry where stats just don’t matter. In 2020, Michigan entered its battle with Sparty as 21.5-point favorites and lost. In 2021, Michigan saw a clear-as-day Aidan Hutchinson touchdown get ignored by the refs, followed by Kenneth Walker prancing into the endzone 5 times, handing the Wolverines their only regular season loss of the year. Throw the record books out the window. Throw the stats out the window. This is going to be a battle. If the Wolverines want to brew up a win this Halloween weekend, here is the recipe they must follow.
4 Quarters of Corum
It’s no secret that the strength of this Michigan offense is a ferocious run game led by arguably the nation’s best back, Blake Corum. While Corum is no doubt a generational talent, the impact of the offensive line is not to be overlooked. Together the O-line and Corum have teamed up for 13 total rushing TDs this season, making Corum the nation’s leading scorer. Anyone that follows this rivalry close enough knows that the team that wins the rushing battle typically walks away with a victory. Therefore, if the Wolverines hope to cook up a win this Saturday, they must feed their Heisman candidate running back consistently for 4 quarters.
Sprinkle in Some JJ
JJ McCarthy’s battle with Cade McNamara for the starting quarterback position has been one of the most well-documented stories in all of college football this season. But now, the battle is over and the job is JJ’s. McCarthy has shown flashes of brilliance during his first 6 starts, but he will need to continue to heat up to prove he isn’t just a flash in the pan. Last season, his inability to maintain control of the ball cost the Wolverines significantly. To pull off a win this year, he will need to maintain possessions, lead his teammates, and sprinkle in some spectacular plays when his number is called.
A Dash of Donovan
The Wolverines can certainly win a ball game without significant contributions from their backup running back, Donovan Edwards, but he always seems to make an appearance during the most monumental moments. What sets him apart from other great backs is his unique ability to run routes downfield. Unlike many pass-catching backs that rely heavily on screen passes to rack up receiving yards, Edwards can run routes downfield up to par with wide receivers at any level. When offensive coordinators Matt Weiss and Sherone Moore are looking to spice up the play-calling, look for them to throw in at least a dash of Donovan Edwards.
Top It Off With Some Edge
Probably the single greatest question mark for Michigan heading into the 2022 season was who is going to replace the production of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo on the edge. Well, Mike Morris has answered that question with an exclamation point. Morris leads the team with 5 sacks, and has been all over the field, adding a pass breakup and a crucial blocked field goal. But Morris isn’t the only NFL-caliber player prowling the edge for Michigan. Former 5-star recruit Eyabi Okie has been trending upward since landing with the team this spring. As his snap count rises, so does his draft stock. With Morris and Okie hitting their stride, look for the boys on the edge to feast during this Halloween weekend matchup.
Garnish With Gemon
One of the most obvious strengths of this Michigan State team is their explosive playmaker out wide, Jaden Reed. But the senior who put up over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago is not the leading receiver on this Spartan squad. That honor currently goes to sophomore wide receiver Keon Coleman. So who is going to stop these downfield weapons? The most obvious answer for Michigan would be DJ Turner. But while Turner is sure to have an impact, I would top off this Halloween weekend recipe with some Gemon Green. Gemon has quickly made a name for himself in the secondary and may cement himself as the best defensive back on the team with a strong performance in this heated rivalry.
So while children are prowling the streets for candy, and witches are brewing up a storm this Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines will be serving up the Spartans with a special concoction. As long as they follow the recipe.
