Mitten Masterkey: Week 6

Hard to believe the college football season is already approaching the midway point, but at Week 6, the first half of the season is starting to wrap up. 

And while the three Michigan MAC teams — Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan — are playing respective sixth games this weekend, Michigan and Michigan State are both coming off idle weeks, playing game No. 5. 

And with four of the five FBS teams on the road this weekend, there will be plenty put to the test. Now, on to what you need for the weekend!

Mitten Football will be at…

Michigan Stadium for Michigan vs. Wisconsin, as it is the lone in-state game this weekend. (Please consider subscribing to aid Mitten Football’s future travel budgets to schlep about the Rust Belt, largely!)

The schedule and TV assignments

All games are Saturday this week

• Noon — Michigan vs. Wisconsin, FOX/FOX streaming
• 2:30 p.m. — Western Michigan at UMass, ESPN+ streaming
• 3:30 p.m. — Central Michigan at Akron, ESPN+ streaming
• 3:30 p.m. — Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, ESPN+ streaming
• 4:00 p.m. — Michigan State at Nebraska, FS1/FOX streaming

And for the uninitiated, this master schedule absolutely rocks (just be aware times are central).

Pregame, halftime reading from Mitten Football, others

• Amidst 3-2 start, recent history says Central Michigan's game vs. Akron is crucial (Mitten Football, Sept. 29)
• Eastern Michigan seeking elusive solutions to slow starts after 1-4 opening (Mitten Football, Sept. 30)
• Couch: Malik Spencer chose to stick it out at MSU. 'Why leave and build somewhere else, if I can stay and build here?' (Lansing State Journal, Oct. 2)
• ‘Don't try to be Superman of the defense:’ Simple formula fueling Central Michigan’s early defensive success (Mitten Football, Oct. 3)
• Deep bonds and big hits: How MSU's Matt Gulbin became one of nation’s best centers (Detroit News, Oct. 3)
• Wisconsin's No. 1 run defense could put Michigan's 'good energy' to the test (Detroit News, Oct. 3)
• Wink Martindale isn't big into secrets and it shows on the field for Michigan football (Detroit Free Press, Oct. 3)
• Michigan State football is desperate to fix its sack problem on defense (Detroit Free Press, Oct. 3)

Picks and preview

Check them out here with longer previews, but for a brief version (scores not included):

• Michigan over Wisconsin
• Western Michigan over UMass
• Central Michigan over Akron
• Eastern Michigan over Buffalo
• Michigan State over Nebraska

A freshman to watch: Jayden Savoury, Michigan State TE

Savoury only has one catch so far this season, for 16 yards against Boston College. But the true freshman has played in the last three games for Michigan State, and doesn’t seem like he’s going to be redshirted as he contributes on special teams and increasingly in the offense as the season goes on. And while there are tight ends above him on the depth chart that Savoury isn’t likely to usurp, namely Jack Velling and Michael Masunas, a true freshman tight end being so good, so early, is rare.

One of the top ranked recruits in the state of Michigan in the 2025 signing class, Savoury came to MSU from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s with much excitement, but even the most optimistic predictions might not have been this bright, as the young player has impressed with his physical ability and how he has caught on to the finer points of being a college football player. There’s still acres of room for him to grow, but the early returns for Savoury have been good. 

A unit to watch: Michigan’s offensive line

The group has been banged up through the middle, namely at guard, as Nathan Efobi and Jake Guarnera have started at left and right guard, respectively, with Gio El-Hadi and Brady Norton out. El-Hadi doesn’t seem like he’s coming back quite yet, though Norton could get back into the lineup soon. Either way, Efobi and Guarnera have played to a level that has head coach Sherrone Moore confident in any combination of guards that Michigan puts out along with center Greg Crippen and tackles Evan Link and Andrew Sprague. 

And despite the injuries, the Michigan offensive line started to assert itself again as a leading edge of the offensive attack in recent weeks, as Michigan rushed for more than 650 combined yards in the two games before the week off. The group has a big challenge going up against a stout Wisconsin run defense. But if the Wolverines offensive line lives up to the challenge, it will be another big step forward to this group being dominant. 

A fun prediction: Western Michigan scores a defensive touchdown

Western Michigan likely had a few moments last week against Rhode Island but this defense seems like it can get after the quarterback and punish bad throws no matter who it faces going forward. And against a UMass team that’s struggled to move the ball and protect the quarterback, the Broncos can likely wreak some more havoc. 

So whether it’s a strip sack scoop and score or a pick six, someone on Chris O’Leary’s defense will find the end zone. Perhaps a special teams touchdown could count, too.