jonvalk got kinda goofy this week with a few options; the SALE sticker sells this one.
Also in wallpapers blue and joe got milk, yvgeni got Harb'd, beangoblue got Next.

I Love Four Plays. It's always a treat when EGD writes up a "Four Plays" diary. This is the thing where he takes two things Michigan does on offense and two things the opponent does, and shows how the matchups will go. One of M's bag of tricks is worth getting into a bit:

When Harbaugh debuted this particular fullback run against BYU, the H-back (Poggi) lined up right behind the right guard (Kalis); at the snap, Kalis went straight for the WLB and Poggi stepped up to kick out the DT.  And wouldn’t you know it—here comes the left guard to lead the ballcarrier through the hole and hit the MLB, just like Power O.  I kind of struggled with what to call this play; I might have done better just calling it “Inside Power.”

He gave the advantage to MSU here because State's DL is pretty powerful. I've watched a lot of their games this year and have an idea that Harbaugh's going to run something a bit different than this to take advantage of the hyperaggressiveness of State's NT, Malik McDowell. The DT is Joel Heath and he has a tendency to get sealed, but he's also huge, i.e. too much for Poggi to kick out. Rather I bet you Michigan traps their balls off. Poggi can give him a quick shove then go by, getting Heath feeling pretty good about their Michigan scouting for that half second before he eats Braden's trap. Poggi can help seal the SAM or find a safety, and we're in business.

[After the jump: where the weak are weak]

Does State Have it Better Than Us? Last year anyone in shouting distance of a Spartan got asked who on Michigan's roster would play for Michigan State, and the answers were "maybe Butt, Ryan and Clark." This year, well, click that to see alum96's rundown. I think he's pretty kind to State (everything arguable he gave to MSU except the Butt/Price matchup). Is Mags/Kieler a wash? Would you rather have LJ Scott than DeVeon Smith? Is MacGarrett Kings an upgrade over Jehu Chesson? Would you put Brian "I wonder why there's nobody for me to block hmmmm" Allen on your offensive line if Braden (or 80% of Big Ten OL) was available? Yes Adam did but [draftageddon things].

His other diary this week was more interesting since it broke down where the Spartans' holes are:

Areas to exploit section - weakness vs strength

MSU

• Fumbles lost v Fumbles recovered
• Passes intercepted vs Interceptions thrown
• Turnover margin / game

UM

• Passing defense v MSU passing offense
• Total defense v MSU total offense
• Kickoff returns v MSU kickoff return defense
• Kickoff return defense v MSU kickoff returns
• UM punt returns and punt return defense is quite average but MSU's is bottom FBS so not a strength on weakness but a middle of pack on weakness battle

I have no idea why S&P+ likes their pass defense. Maybe because they faced Vernon Adams with a broken finger instead of Jeff Lockie, who's been starting for Oregon since then? For the record WMU, Oregon, Air Force, CMU, Purdue and Rutgers are 36th, 64th, 93rd, 62nd, 65th, and 18th, respectively in passing S&P+. Michigan is 38th.

It was not the greatest chant in the world. This is correct:

Late in the 4th, up 38-zip, from the south end zone seats starts the defense chant.  Brian interpreted it as encouraging the D to finish the shutout.  It could have been.  My buddies and I participated, but our interpretation was it was a tribute to the team, to include the fans.  The atmosphere was fantastic!

That's what I thought we were doing too, or at least I thought we were paying tribute to the defense, not asking them to finish the shutout. It amounts to the same thing. Anyway the defense at that moment was mostly concerned with getting the playcall in for 4th and forever.

Already linked. EBV's version of the kickoff return. ItBS.

Etc. Advanced stats like Michigan. Michigan likes advanced stats. No really, we really like advanced stats! Chris of Dangerous Logic figured out Chesson's speed on the kickoff return. Power rankings. Opponent stock report. A mini-program for tomorrow.

Best of the Board

THEY STILL DON'T KNOW IT'S TROLLING

Since long before I joined the Daily we've had an annual tradition where the best Daily sportswriter and a State News editor have dueling columns printed beside each other. The point is to highlight how much better we are at writing. I would say this year's is particularly demonstrative, but I can't remember a year when it didn't hit the maximum disparity.

Also the Michigan Daily has won the last 10 flag football games against the State News, and is going for 11 tonight. 7:30 at Elbel.

THIS RIVALRY IN GIFs

When you call a juke "Hart-like" this is the thought:

BRADY PALLANTE NAMED AFTER BRADY HOKE AND WHO WAS RECRUITING D.J. DURKIN

I can't improve on this headline so I won't try.

Uh huh

In the DetNews story, Dan Pallante was coaching DJ Durkin in HS when he was visited by Brady Hoke, who was on the staff at UM in 1994 and came to recruit DJ. Dan's wife, who was pregnant at the time, met Hoke and decided she liked the name Brady, which is how Brady Pallante got his name. Pallante then ends up being coached by the guy that caused the event to happen in the first place due to his play in HS.

JUGGALOS SPRAY PAINT ANIMALS OOOOOHHH DISS

After Michigan fans threw blue paint-filled water balloons at the Sparty statue, and Magic Johnson poop volcano (yes they have one of these and it is apparently very important to them) statues, Spartans retaliated by going to North Campus and putting an S on an animal.

The water-based paint was hosed off. The animal is reportedly ornery but that is apparently typical for him.

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS KINGFISHER IS A DELAWARE FAN

Lighter blue hue than Michigan, and we've never worn maize helmets.

ETC. Dantonio/Harbaugh against the spread. Gameday sign ideas. Softball schedule. Your favorite Spartans (Drew Stanton is mine). Chicagoland meetup. Every snap of MSU games thus far.

Your Moment of Zen