'Four' your information: Spartans face off against Wolverines Saturday

1) With a 2-5 record, the Wolverines are at risk of snapping their streak of 33 consecutive bowl game appearances — the longest in the nation. The last time U-M missed a bowl game was in 1974. The Wolverines are two postseason bids away from tying Nebraska for the most consecutive bowl appearances in college football history. Nebraska made the post-season 35 straight times between 1968 and 2003.

2) The school that has rushed for more yards has won this matchup 36 of the last 40 contests, according to Michigan’s athletics department. That bodes well for MSU, which boasts Doak Walker candidate Javon Ringer and averages 20.1 more rushing yards per game than U-M. MSU ranks seventh in the conference in rushing offense while U-M ranks ninth.

3) The loss of playmakers Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington and Jake Long to the NFL and the transition to a complex new offensive system has left the Wolverines reeling on offense. U-M ranks dead last in the Big Ten in scoring offense (18.6 points per game) and turnover margin (-8), and they are second to last in pass offense (150.6 yards per game).

4) Most experts anticipated that Michigan’s offense would endure its share of growing pains this season, but few expected the Wolverines to be so poor on defense. Despite returning seven starters — including NFL prospects Tim Jamison, Brandon Graham, Terrance Taylor and Donovan Warren — the Wolverines rank second to last in the conference in scoring defense (27.9 points per game) and pass defense (243 yards per game).