Michigan vs. Ohio: Which state has the edge?

Ohio vs. Michigan.

College rivalries aside, there's a big debate on which state is better. With Saturday's matchup between MSU and Ohio State just a few days away, we thought it would be fun to dust it off.

Who has the edge?

The Great Lakes

You’ve got choices in Michigan when it comes to which large body of water you want to dip your toes in next. When you’re in Ohio, your only option is Lake Erie, which isn’t much of an option at all… And when your other main waterway is nicknamed Big Brown, that’s already a fail.

Edge: Michigan

Libations

Breweries are aplenty in both states, but with 172 breweries in Michigan compared to Ohio’s 115, it’s no question that Michigan is the state to go to for craft beers. And come on, Michigan even has a beer fight song (apparently).

Edge: Michigan

Food

From pasties to Coney dogs, Michiganders know how to eat and eat well. And don’t forget the world-renowned Cherry Festival in Traverse City. What have you done for the culinary world, Ohio? Ohio’s lone bragging right in this category is Cincinnati chili, which is really just spiced meat dumped on a pile of noodles and smothered with cheese.

Edge: Michigan

Music

Bands such as the Black Keys, The National, Bootsy Collins and Bone Thugs N Harmony hail from Ohio, and the state is home to the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. But Detroit is the birthplace of techno, Madonna, Eminem, Bob Seger and Motown… just to name a few.

Edge: Toss up

Travel

Hands down, Michigan has some of the worst roads in the U.S. Even though Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a $1.2 billion road funding package into law on Nov. 10, that means higher fuel taxes and registration fees for Michiganders.

Edge: Ohio

Politics

Ohio boasts more U.S. presidents than Michigan, including Ulysses Grant, James Garfield and William Taft. Michigan can only claim Gerald Ford.

Edge: Ohio

Tourism

We’d like to automatically give this one to #PureMichigan, but both states have a lot to offer their residents when it comes to family fun. With Cedar Point right on the border, Michiganders flock there in the summer months, and there’s no denying that. (But don't forget to check out these bucket list items for Michigan.)

Edge: Toss up

Sports

Ohio has seven Heisman trophy winners compared to Michigan’s three. And it’s home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But Michigan has won more pro sports titles with the city of Detroit than Ohio has with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus combined. The last time Cleveland won a title was in 1964 when they won the NFL championship game. The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series in 1990, but the last time Michigan saw a pro team hang a banner was in 2008 when the Detroit Red Wings took home the Stanley Cup.

Edge: Michigan

Out of this world

According to NASA, 24 astronauts are Ohio natives, and the list includes Neil Armstrong.

Edge: Ohio

However, for all you Michiganders, we’ll just leave you with this: