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In each of the last two seasons, Northwestern went into its matchup with Michigan State needing a big win after looking decidedly meager in its earlier games. In 2006 the Cats pounced on State, building a shocking 38-3 lead by halftime … then uttered barely a meow in watching the Spartans stage the biggest rally in major college football history. From the NU sidelines, the only upside was the emergence of C.J. Bacher, whose mobility and arm offered the Wildcats their first legitimate hope for completed passes since the Brett Basenez era.
The 4-1 Spartans don’t have the most impressive stats either—they’re in the middle of the pack on both sides of the ball—but there’s no doubt that they have a formidable running attack, with a powerful line clearing the way for back Javon Ringer, who tops the Big Ten with 165 yards a game.
· Michigan torpedoes Toledo.
My record last week: 5-1.
