SPARTAN TIPOFF: No. 5 Michigan State vs. Michigan

• Where: Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor

• When: 7 p.m. today

• TV/Radio: ESPN; Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM

• Records: MSU is 17-3 overall, 7-0 in the Big Ten; Michigan is 10-9, 3-4.

• Series: Michigan leads 91-72.

• Coaches: Tom Izzo is 353-140 in his 15th season, all with Michigan State. John Beilein is 517-320 in his 28th season overall, and 41-45 in his third with Michigan.

Projected lineups

MICHIGAN STATE

Pos. Name PPG

F (2) Raymar Morgan (6-8) 11.2

F (10) Delvon Roe (6-8) 7.2

C (41) Garrick Sherman (6-9) 2.1

G (3) Chris Allen (6-3) 9.9

G (1) Kalin Lucas (6-1) 15.8

MICHIGAN

Pos. Name PPG

F (34) DeShawn Sims (6-8) 17.4

F (0) Zack Novak (6-5) 7.6

G (1) Stu Douglass (6-3) 6.8

G (31) Laval Lucas-Perry (6-3) 6.3

G (3) Manny Harris (6-5) 19.2

• MSU update: Izzo is going for his 17th win in 20 tries against U-M, after dropping his first five. The dominance started in 1998, with the three losses coming in Ann Arbor in 2003, 2006 and 2007. MSU also is going for the best Big Ten start in its history. The 7-0 start matches the 1977-78 team led by freshman Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The Spartans are looking to expand on their best Big Ten road stretch in history - 11 wins in 12 games. Despite all those impressive stats, this team can play better. But Saturday's stunning 65-64 comeback win at Minnesota was big for this team. Because of what it means in the Big Ten race, the way Lucas and Morgan took over, and the fact that Minnesota is a pretty good team with a great coach that played its best for most of the day in front of a roaring home crowd. If he wins tonight, even Izzo can't deny his team is in control of the Big Ten title chase.

• Michigan update: Harris will indeed play after he was suspended for Saturday's loss at Purdue. Don't forget that a year ago, Beilein benched Harris for overtime of an eventual loss at Iowa. Amid much public scrutiny, Harris and the Wolverines responded a few days later with a resounding home upset of Purdue that revived their NCAA Tournament hopes. U-M needs this game and a bunch more to make those hopes realistic this season. Beilein's club is the most disappointing in the Big Ten to date, a preseason top-15 team that has struggled to shoot for long stretches. Pair that with U-M's rebounding issues and defensive inconsistency, and you have a 10-9 record. The Wolverines did recently score an upset over Connecticut, though, and they had a great chance to win at Wisconsin last week before fading late.

Matchups

• Backcourts: Travis Walton stifled Harris the past two seasons. MSU will have to take more of a team approach now. Douglass and Lucas-Perry are erratic but dangerous. Lucas and Morgan are coming off huge all-around performances at Minnesota, while Allen was the unsung hero with his defense and timely 3-pointers. Edge: MSU

• Frontcourts: Assuming MSU starts big, Sherman is a good way to start on the tremendously gifted Sims. MSU will rotate several guys on him. Roe went off last season for 14 points and 10 rebounds in Ann Arbor, taking advantage of U-M's small lineup. Novak battles and can hit the 3-point shot. Expect MSU to go small often to match U-M's lineup. Edge: Michigan

• Benches: Other than the starters, U-M has just one player, freshman guard Darius Morris, averaging double figures in minutes. Zack Gibson is a decent reserve big man. MSU has one of the nation's best benches, led by Draymond Green, Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious. Edge: MSU

• Prediction: If Harris and Sims play big and the shooters hit their share, Michigan can beat anyone at home. Expect the Spartans to defend well enough against all three threats to pull out another tight road victory. Make it: MSU 64, Michigan 59

- Capsule preview compiled by Joe Rexrode