Who's got the edge? Position-by-position breakdown of Michigan-Michigan State

Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs, shown during last year's game against Michigan State, is the leader of the Wolverines' third-ranked pass defense. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan has lost four consecutive games against Michigan State.

This year's installment in the series should prove more favorable for the Wolverines.

The Spartans are paced by tailback Le'Veon Bell and a superb linebacking corps, but Michigan (4-2, 2-0) otherwise stacks up favorably against 4-3 Michigan State.

A closer look at the matchups:

QUARTERBACK
MSU has been more productive through the air, ranking third in the Big Ten at 251.8 yards per game. Michigan is 11th at 186.0 yards per game. And yet, Denard Robinson holds the edge here, despite his career struggles against the Spartans. He leads the Big Ten in total offense and rushing, and has thrived under Michigan's new offensive identity. Having two games under his belt against MSU, and its portfolio of blitzes, should help. Maxwell is in his first game in this series, and his first true road game (sorry, Central Michigan and Indiana don't count). Advantage: Michigan

RUNNING BACK
Michigan finally got production last week from its tailbacks, but still gets its Bell rung here (see what I did there? Are we still allowed to make Bell puns? No? Oh, OK, moving along ...). Le'Veon Bell is the Big Ten's top tailback at 130.9 yards per game, and he's used like it, racking up 200 carries, second in the country. The Wolverines will counter with Fitz Toussaint, with some Thomas Rawls likely mixed in. Advantage: Michigan State

RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
MSUs' receivers have been more productive (81 catches to 53), but also lead the Big Ten in drops. Freshman Aaron Burbridge has come on strong, averaging a Big Ten-best 111.5 yards receiving in league games. Michigan's receivers have been more sure-handed, but utilized less in the team's run-heavy offensive overhaul. The Wolverines gain an edge at tight end, where they have a playmaker in Devin Funchess and MSU could miss its playmaker in Dion Sims, who was not listed this week on the team's depth chart due to injury. Advantage: Michigan

OFFENSIVE LINE
Michigan's line is rounding into form, after struggling early with new starters at three spots. It's been consistent -- consistently good -- in recent weeks, paving the way for more than 300 yards rushing each of the past two weeks. MSU is missing two of its better offensive linemen due to injury in Travis Jackson and Fou Fonoti. Advantage: Michigan

DEFENSIVE LINE
Michigan has improved each week here, gaining push and even quarterback pressures last week against Illinois (including 1.5 sacks). Quinton Washington is drawing consistent praise for his play in the middle, and depth seems to be building at end, where Craig Roh and Brennen Beyer have started and Mario Ojemudia and Frank Clark are worked in. MSU is paced by William Gholston, a physical specimen who has not performed to expectations this year. MSU misses Jerel Worthy in the middle, where they are rotating through tackles, gaining some production but missing Worthy's disruption. Overall, still a solid group. Advantage: Push

LINEBACKERS
Michigan will win this matchup most weeks, but not this one. Kenny Demens and Desmond Morgan are playing their best football, and Jake Ryan is a terror on the strong side. Yet, MSU gets the edge. Their grouping of Max Bullough, Denicos Allen and Taiwan Jones is formidable, and it starts with their tackling, which is superb. Bullough is the soul of MSU's Big Ten-best defense. Advantage: Michigan State

SECONDARY
There are two teams better than Michigan in pass defense this year, and neither is Michigan State. The Wolverines' experienced safety play with Jordan Kovacs and Thomas Gordon is a safety blanket, limiting big plays all season. J.T. Floyd and Raymon Taylor make mistakes, but their aggressive play helps disrupt things. Advantage: Michigan

SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Hagerup still leads the nation in punting, Dennis Norfleet still packs a punch on kick return (and broke a 42-yard punt return against Illinois) and Brendan Gibbons is a steady 7-of-9 on field goals this season. MSU, meanwhile, has been a mess. Placekicker Dan Conroy missed a field goal in each of his first five games (although made his past six), and Andre Sims Jr. is in his second game as the replacement punt returner for Nick Hill, who had trouble muffing punts anyway. Punter Mike Sadler is a weapon at punter. Advantage: Michigan

Kyle Meinke's prediction: Michigan 24, Michigan State 13
Nick Baumgardner's prediction: Michigan 20, Michigan State 17

-- Download the “Michigan Wolverines on MLive app” for your iPhone and Android to keep up with news on the Wolverines.