BIG TEN CONFERENCE Michigan needs win to stay hopeful

If the Wolverines can beat Michigan State Saturday, they will stay in contention for a share of the Big Ten title.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Just a couple months ago, some thought Michigan and Michigan State would meet with 8-0 records in a game everyone in the country would want to watch.
It hasn't worked out that way.
Few outside the state -- without ties to either school -- will care what happens Saturday in Michigan Stadium because both teams already have fallen short of their goals.
"I felt like our record would be good going into this game," Michigan State's star receiver Charles Rogers said. "Not only did I think we would be 8-0, but them as well."
The 15th-ranked Wolverines (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) are coming off their worst loss at home since 1967. The 25-point loss to Iowa crushed Michigan's hopes of going to the Rose Bowl for the first time in five years.
In a slump
The Spartans (3-5, 1-3) have lost three straight and four of their last five games and recently have been in the news for the wrong reasons. Quarterback Jeff Smoker is suspended indefinitely for breaking unspecified team rules, and on Thursday, defensive end Greg Taplin was suspended from Saturday's game for violating unspecified team rules.
Coach Bobby Williams also is being questioned and criticized for the program's lack of success.
"It's obvious that our team is in a little bit of a slump," Williams said.
Despite the toned-down hype for the game, much is at stake for both programs and coaches and fans across the state.
The scenario
With a win, Michigan would still have a chance to earn a piece of the Big Ten title -- without much hope for a Rose Bowl bid because of tiebreakers -- and would be in position to earn a trip to a New Year's Day bowl for the seventh straight year.
A loss would give coach Lloyd Carr at least three losses in a season for the sixth time in eight years, and perhaps a four-loss season for the fourth time.
"We're disappointed that our primary goal might now be out of reach," quarterback John Navarre said. "But we've got a lot to play for. I would like to finish 11-2. That would be a pretty good season, and we can accomplish that if we win out."
The Spartans would salvage some respect with a win -- taking some heat off Williams -- and would have consecutive victories over Michigan for the first time since winning three straight from 1965-67. They haven't won in Ann Arbor since 1990.
"They can be beat at their home, Iowa proved it last week," said Rogers, who will be involved in the most-intriguing matchup against cornerback Marlin Jackson.
Candidates for awards
Both are candidates for awards at their position: Rogers for the Biletnikoff Trophy and Jackson for the Thorpe Award.
Rogers has caught almost six catches a game for 118.6 yards -- trailing just two players nationally -- and nine touchdowns.
"I want to be known as the best cornerback and to do that you have to play the best and right now, Charles Rogers is the best," Jackson said last month. "I've seen him make some plays this year, like the one against Notre Dame, where I was like 'Wow,' so it will be fun to play him."
Jackson has intercepted three passes and has broken up 14, one short of the school record set by Charles Woodson.
As fun as it will be to watch Rogers and Jackson, history suggests they will not decide who wins.
The team that has ran for more yards has won 32 of the last 33 games. The only exception was in 1995 when Michigan outrushed Michigan State, but lost.