Michigan/Michigan State

Now that's what I call a good old-fashioned ass-whupping. No, yours truly isn't a State fan. If anything, I've mostly rooted for the Blue over the years, though I don't know why. No one in my family ever went to UM, but somehow it worked out that way.

But a whuppin is a whuppin, and that's exactly what the Spartans did to the Wolverines. The wore their blue butts out -- all day. Given how the game went -- the final score of 29-6 seemed to be about right.

Oh my, "little brother" has grown up to become quite a brute indeed.

MSU had the #1 ranked defense in the country going in, and they certainly had it on display when UM showed up in East Lansing.

Michigan had -48 rushing yards? As in negative 48? For the whole game? Really? That's likely some kind of record. But combine their entire running game, hotshot QB Devin Gardner and all, getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage -- with 7 QB sacks to boot -- and that's what happens. Michigan's offensive line looked like the cavalry trying to defend against a charging Panzer division. In any battle of tanks versus horses -- I'll take the tanks every time.

MSU isn't noted for having a high octane offense, but they put up 400 total yards. Certainly respectable. On the other hand, UM managed a grand total of only 170. Again -- all day. Doing the math, and subtracting the -48 yards rushing, UM passed for 218 yards. In and of itself, that's not too shabby.

Thing is, prior to this game, UM's offense had been somewhat of a juggernaut. The fewest points they'd scored all year in a game was 24 against lowly UConn. They even put up a whopping 63 in their previous game against Indiana.

This time out, they got a grand total of 6, which required two rather long field goals. Other than that, the Green defense was busy taking the Blue offense to the woodshed. Did I mention all day?

Sorry, Brady Hoke, but you only get so many Akrons, Central Michigans, UConns and Indianas on your schedule. And Notre Dame ain't all that this year. Eventually, you have to play somebody good. The Spartans aren't national championship caliber, but they're the real deal when it comes to the level of Big 10 (actually 12) competition.

Given the beatdown Michigan just took, you just know the chants of "little sister" have already started in Spartieland directed at their currently rather "blue" cross state rivals, in more ways than one.

Hey, to the victors go the spoils, including bragging rights, and MSU earned it fair and square with a thorough trouncing of UM.

But you know what? In the whole scheme of things, it probably doesn't matter much. First, MSU will likely earn to the right to be trounced themselves by the behemoths in Columbus (Ohio State) in the Big 10 championship game.

Then they, along with their now little sisters in Ann Arbor, will both trot off to second-tier bowl games in January. Rah, rah, strike up the marching bands, and cha-ching.

The big boys like Alabama, Oregon, Florida State, and Ohio State will pay them no heed as they slug it out for what's really important. Little brothers indeed.

But on this day, MSU shined and good for them.

Idle thought: With most of the former polluting automobile factories having packed up and moved elsewhere, and MSU throttling UM, perhaps Michigan will become a "greener" state after all.

But don't mention that to the folks in Ann Arbor.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't approve.