Wojo''s pigskin picks

This is the moment Michigan fans always pretended was imminent, but still secretly fear isn’t real. This is the moment Michigan State fans always pretended would never happen, but secretly feared it would. Michigan is 7-0 and ranked second in the country. Michigan State is 2-5 and ranked sixth in the state of Michigan, behind 7-1 Wayne State. The rivals clash Saturday, and Michigan is favored by anywhere from 21 to 78 points, depending on how loud and drunk the Michigan fan is as he jabs a chubby finger into the Michigan State fan’s chest. Hey, the Spartans can’t say they weren’t warned. They’ve done some heavy, heavy trolling while winning seven of eight meetings, led by disrespect-addicted coach Mark “Still No D” Antonio. The Wolverines took their punishment without much resistance, even apologizing when they were mildly disrespectful.

The Spartans can’t believe this is happening after just reaching the national playoff, where they impressively held the Crimson Tide below 40. The Wolverines can’t fully grasp it either, wondering if this is some sort of trap and Antonio suddenly will start using the real playbook, the one with actual first-down passes, minus fake field goals with one second left in the half. I’m not saying the Spartans are in a daze after starting 0-4 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1982. I’m just saying there are Michigan State fans staggering through the streets wearing stained Cotton Bowl T-shirts and “Make State Great Again” hats. I’m just saying Michigan State’s defense was assigned the task of protecting the Sparty statue this week, and at last report, Sparty was missing his helmet, half an arm, and obscenely, his entire codpiece. He also was caked in approximately 27 coats of blue paint.