WHO: No. 17 Michigan State (5-0) at No. 18 Michigan (5-0).

WHERE: Michigan Stadium.

WHEN: 3:36 p.m. Saturday.

ODDS: Michigan is favored by 4 1/2 points, according to sportsbook.com.

SERIES RECORD: Michigan leads, 67-30-5.

LAST MEETING: Michigan State 26, Michigan 20 (OT) on Oct. 3, 2009. (AnnArbor.com coverage)

BROADCAST INFORMATION: TV: ABC/ESPN (coverage map); Radio: Michigan Sports Network (local affiliates), Sirius Ch. 125, XM Ch. 102.

MICHIGAN: Team Stats | Team Rankings | Roster

MICHIGAN STATE: Team Stats | Team Rankings | Roster

RUNDOWN: We'll keep the preamble here short. Not because this game doesn't deserve some hype. It certainly does.

Both teams are entering the intra-state rivalry game unbeaten for the first time since 1999, and both are ranked for the first time since 2003. It's the 14th time they've both been ranked heading into the game, and they have a 6-6-1 record in the first 13.

But we've compiled so much information for you below that we don't want to waste any precious time. Start clicking links right now and you just might finish reading before kickoff!

AnnArbor.com reporters have been previewing the matchup all week ... and, moreso than any prior game, the stories have reached beyond our sports pages. This mega mega guide includes links to our own stories that focus on on-the-field topics, a number of off-the-field stories, plenty of MSU-related content generated by our sister papers, an Associated Press preview capsule and more.

ON-THE-FIELD STORIES

TODAY

• There's a lot at stake today, including the possibility of MSU's first three-game win streak in the series since 1967 and bowl eligibility for both teams.

FRIDAY

• AnnArbor.com's Pete Bigelow has gone on record picking Michigan to win Saturday. David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press likes Michigan State. They offer their rationale here: Bigelow/Michigan and Mayo/Michigan State.

• In our weekly "Beat Writer Breakdown," Greg Johnson of the Grand Rapids Press looks at the game from Michigan State's perspective.

• Not surprisingly, our daily college sports links is heavy with U-M vs. MSU news.

THURSDAY

• Pete Bigelow writes that Denard Robinson's late-game savvy should serve Michigan well against the Spartans.

• Looking for some gutsy, aggressive play calling in this game? It's more likely to come from Michigan State.

• Mike Rothstein's feature story on Michigan nose tackle Mike Martin looks at the hard work and sacrifice Martin put into becoming a Wolverine.

• Bigelow and Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal teamed to preview the game via a combined live chat. That transcript can be found here.

• Bigelow (a true multi-media threat) then joined Rothstein to break down the matchup in this video report.

• We also posted some video of Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones talking about stopping Denard Robinson.

The Associated Press' Noah Trister reports that MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins sees his job as matching Robinson point-for-point, not stat-for-stat.

WEDNESDAY • We take a look back at the previous games between ranked U-M and MSU football teams.

• Seth Broekhuizen is Michigan's likely place-kicker on Saturday, matching up with the Spartans' Dan Conroy, the Big Ten’s most accurate kicker this season. Plus a look at injuries, true freshmen playing time and more in this notebook.

• Jeff Arnold writes that Roy Roundtree has emerged as Michigan's most consistent receiving threat.

• In our regular 'Catching Up With ... " feature, Mike Rothstein chats with former Michigan wide receiver Tyrone Butterfield.

• We share two ESPN videos. The first mentions both Michigan and Michigan State as the best unbeaten teams outside the top 10. The second offers keys to victory in the game.

TUESDAY • Pete Bigelow stopped by the Michigan State press conference, where Mark Dantonio proclaimed his health issues won't keep him away from Michigan week.

• Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly lost to both Michigan and Michigan State this season. He says the teams can't be more philosophically different. • The Big Ten -- once home to a three yards-and-a-cloud of dust philosophy -- is becoming a league full of playmakers and high-scoring offenses.

• Mike Hart's "little brother" comment in 2007 still lingers within the U-M vs. MSU rivalry.

• What impact will this game have on recruiting? Coaches say it's minimal.

• In perhaps the most anti-climactic headline of the week, "Stopping Denard Robinson is Michigan State football team's top concern."

• Why? Because Robinson is the unanimous Heisman Trophy front-runner, according to voters.

MONDAY

• At the Michigan press conference on Monday, coach Rich Rodriguez put his team's defensive struggles in perspective.

• Rodriguez and several Michigan players talk about Michigan State in our video report from the press conference.

• ... and Jeff Arnold provided these live updates from the press conference.

• National rankings and unbeaten records give this year's edition of the annual intra-state rivalry a little extra juice.

• Denard Robinson saw little practice time on Monday ...

• ... the same day he picked up his third Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award.

• 2004 was the runaway winner in our poll, which asked readers which was the best U-M vs. MSU game of the past decade.

OFF-THE-FIELD STORIES • Don't have tickets to the game? Here's your guide to the next-best places to be Saturday in Ann Arbor.

• MSU at U-M game day is like 'major holiday' for beer distributor serving downtown Ann Arbor.

• Four U-M students were asked to give us their best trash talking. Their responses are captured in this video report.

• Members of the Theta Xi fraternity took it upon themselves to protect the brass block M in the middle of the Diag from any potential vandalism at the hands of MSU students.

• The big game is generating excitement -- and more sales -- for Ann Arbor businesses.

• Planning to purchase tickets online or on the streets? Beware, local officials say.

• Saturday's game offers plenty of opportunity for fundraising.

• Michigan State fans traveling to Ann Arbor for the game will find plenty of friendly faces.

• A Detroit man postponed his heart surgery to watch this weekend's game.

MLIVE.COM COVERAGE

• Grand Rapids Press: Superstars Greg Jones, Denard Robinson set to collide when Spartans and Wolverines clash

• Grand Rapids Press: Michigan State defenders aren't gaga over Denard Robinson heading into matchup vs. Wolverines

• Flint Journal: Michigan-Michigan State rivalry runs deep for Andre Weathers and Jeremy Barkey

• Muskegon Chronicle: A mother's dilemma: MSU vs. University of Michigan divides, unites households

• Grand Rapids Press: Michigan State-Michigan video preview with Greg Johnson

• Grand Rapids Press: Spartans' Kirk Cousins says game against Michigan goes beyond battle of quarterbacks

• Flint Journal: Former Spartans players engage in lighthearted smack talk

• Grand Rapids Press: Spartans have shot at putting stamp on football program's revival with win against Michigan

• Grand Rapids Press: Michigan State defenders eager to face speedy Wolverines QB Denard Robinson

• And more at mlive.com/spartans and mlive.com/wolverines.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PREVIEW Still craving more? Here's a preview capsule from the Associated Press:

WHAT'S AT STAKE Michigan can solidify its return to relevance in the Big Ten after two down seasons, become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and help boost QB Denard Robinson's Heisman Trophy candidacy. Michigan State can validate itself as a legitimate conference contender and become perhaps the feel-good story of the season in the wake of coach Mark Dantonio's heart problems by earning a third straight victory over the Wolverines. Then there's the matter of in-state bragging rights and the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Other than that, not much to play for ...

KEY MATCHUP Michigan State RBs Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker vs. the Michigan defensive front. Although Robinson has been a one-man highlight reel for Michigan, that won't matter if the Wolverines can't stop anyone. They allowed 35 points last week to Indiana and 37 last month to UMass, and they'll have their hands full with the Spartans' talented running backs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Michigan State: WR Keshawn Martin ran a punt back for a TD last weekend against Wisconsin. He's accounted for touchdowns in five different ways during his career — rushing, receiving, passing, on a punt return and on a kickoff return. The Spartans would love another big play on special teams to swing what figures to be a close game.

Michigan: Robinson leads the nation in rushing, is completing 70 percent of his passes and has already been Big Ten offensive player of the week three times. He scored the winning TD in the final seconds against Notre Dame and Indiana, and is averaging 9.2 yards per carry.

FACTS & FIGURES Dantonio is expected to be at the game after missing the last two following a mild heart attack Sept. 19. ... Three of the last six games in the series have gone to OT. ... Michigan State is trying to win three straight against Michigan for the first time since 1965-67. ... The Wolverines are second in the nation in total offense. ... Michigan has scored six touchdowns on drives of three plays or fewer. ... LB Greg Jones is on pace to become the second player to lead Michigan State in tackles four straight seasons.

AROUND THE BIG TEN The Michigan-Michigan State game is clearly the highlight of this week's Big Ten schedule. The rest of the games, which are previewed here, include:

Illinois (2-2, 0-1) at Penn State (3-2, 0-1), noon Indiana (3-1, 0-1) at Ohio State (5-0, 1-0), noon Minnesota (1-4, 0-1) at Wisconsin (4-1, 0-1), noon Purdue (2-2, 0-0) at Northwestern (5-0, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.

AROUND THE NATION Check out previews of all games involving top 25 teams.