Michigan State @ Michigan preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2009 ) Michigan 20, Michigan State 26

When Michigan hosts rival Michigan State Saturday, there could be an NCAA-record crowd at The Big House in Ann Arbor.

With good reason.

Both teams are 5-0 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten play. Both are ranked in the top 20, the Spartans No. 16 and the Wolverines one spot lower.

Both feature powerful offenses. Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson, the early Heisman favorite, leads the nation in rushing (181 yards per game) and ranks second in total offense (382.6 yards per game). The explosive sophomore keys a spread option attack that has put up 41.4 points a game and quieted the critics of coach Rich Rodriguez.

The Spartans bring three excellent running backs who are thriving behind a stout offensive line. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is completing 67.5 percent of his throws, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. As a result, Michigan State is scoring 36.2 points a game while achieving near-perfect balance: 220 rushing yards and 240 passing yards per game.

Michigan State won’t have trouble moving the ball against Michigan, which ranks 102nd nationally in total defense (433.6 yards allowed per game). The Wolverines looked helpless to stop Indiana last week in a 42-35 win that wasn’t decided until Robinson’s 4-yard scoring run with 17 seconds left.

The Spartans are coming off a 34-24 win over Wisconsin, their second straight victory without coach Mark Dantonio. The coach suffered a heart attack following the Sept. 19 win over Notre Dame and had to be re-admitted when he developed a blood clot. However, Dantonio got out of the hospital Monday and hopes to be in the press box Saturday.

Senior linebacker Greg Jones, who leads a solid Spartans defense, figures to chase Robinson all day. Jones has 41 tackles, five for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a sack.

Michigan leads the overall series 67-30-5 and has won seven of the last 10 meetings. But the Spartans prevailed 26-20 in overtime last year and 35-21 in 2008.

For a game with this much buildup, anything less than a close, entertaining shootout would be disappointing.