Lansing, MI—The number # 2 ranked Michigan Wolverines entered today’s matchup with instate rival Michigan State Spartans on a 7-game winning streak and undefeated in the Big Ten (record of 3-0). Michigan led by Heisman hopeful junior QB JJ McCarthy has thrown for 1,512 yards passing 14 touchdowns to only 3- ints and nations best QBR 92.6 looks to keep his Heisman campaign rolling on the road in East Lansing.
McCarthy threw three of his career-high four touchdown passes in the first half and the second-ranked Michigan Wolverines beat Michigan State 49-0 on Saturday night.
“We’re not even close to our peak yet,” McCarthy said.
The Michigan’s offense average 45.8 points per game and a large part of the scoring comes from senior RB Blake Corum totaling 546 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns on the ground and fellow senior WR Roman Wilson 25 receptions 396 yards and 9-touchdown catches both has accounted for more than 50% of the Wolverines scoring output.
Not to be over shadowed is the Wolverines defense only gave up a total of 47 points and 6.7 points per game one of the nations best in both departments. Michigan’s defense has recorded 18 sacks, 9-ints and 3-defensive pick 6’s. Michigan’s Head coach Jim Harbaugh may have his best team since becoming the Wolverines head coach and look to win his 3rd straight Big Ten title which makes his 3rd straight college football playoff.
Michigan St. Spartans are seeking their 1st big ten victory of the season and this would be one of the biggest upsets of this college football season. The Spartans are no stranger to beating their instate rivals. The matchup marks the 116th time the schools have faced off, Michigan leads the all-time series 72-38-5 over the Spartans, but the last two decades are much closer. Since 2003 both teams have ten wins apiece.
The Maize and Blue opened the game with an impressive passing attack. Showcasing McCarthy starting the game 5/6 for 74 yards completing passes to four different receivers. He kept the Spartans’ defense on it’s heels with a mixture of well balanced play calling and a hurry up offense. The drive capped off with a 1-yard run up the middle by Blake Corum for his 13th touchdown of the season, the Wolverines struck 1st going up 7-0. Michigan St. game plan was to get the ball into Nathan Carter’s hands early and often 3 out of the 1st 4 plays Carter got the football.
An early gutsy call by interim head coach Harlon Barnett of the Spartans went for it on 4th 2 at mid-field and came up short. Michigan’s 2nd possession looked similar to the 1st one, McCarthy was red hot going 3/3 on the drive with 55-yards an easy pitch and catch 25- yard TD to Roman Wilson for his 10th TD catch of the season and the Wolverines pushed the score to 14-0 in the opening quarter. The Wolverines defense forced a 3-and- out and got the ball back with great field position. JJ McCarthy ended the 1st quarter of play 10/12 144 yards a touchdown and lead 14-0.
“We got our butts kicked,” Barnett said.
Michigan State (2-5, 0-4) has lost five straight contests since former coach Mel Tucker was suspended and later dismissed for acknowledging he had having consensual phone sex with a vendor, who is a sexual assault activist and rape survivor.
Michigan couldn’t be stopped, scored on their 3rd possession. It ended with a 22-yard touchdown toss from McCarthy to Colston Loveland putting the Wolverines up big in the 2nd quarter 21-0. Michigan defense held the Spartans to 51 total yards and two first down in the 1st half. McCarthy darted a beautiful touchdown pass between two defenders up the seam for 22 yards to Colston Loveland for their 2nd TD connection of the 1st half. The Wolverines were toying with the Spartans at this point, upping their lead to 28-0.
Total domination in the 1st half by the Wolverines, time of possession 21:37 to 8:23 in favor of Michigan, 311 total McCarthy 18/24 248 yards 3 touchdowns and a 28-0 lead at the break.
Michigan St opening the 2nd half with a sense of urgency picking back to back 1st down. MSU QB Katin Houser proved that Spartans’ Offense has a pulse completing 4 passes in a row. MSU went for it on 4th down Houser threw a pick-6 to Michigan’s Mike Sainristil ending any hopes of a come back and making Michigan’s lead 35-0 as the onslaught continued.
The Wolverines kept pouring it on the Spartans with McCarthy’s 4th touchdown pass on the game this time a 8-yard frozen rope to AJ Barner to increase the lead to 42-0 shellacking. McCarthy ended his day 21/27 287 yards 4 touchdowns in the 3rd quarter of this one sided blowout.
UP NEXT:
Michigan State Spartans is a road game against Minnesota.
For the #2 Michigan Wolverines on 11/4 a home game against the Purdue Boilermakers.
