Special Preview- Week Ten
(14) Penn State Nittany Lions at (5) Michigan Wolverines
Penn State: They had to battle at home last week and they succeeded as they had to grind out a victory against the Iowa Hawkeyes and with the win, they improved to 6-2 and still remain in third place in the Big Ten East. It may seem as if they’re having a down year once again, but I think this team is a lot better than people give them credit for and I know they don’t look like the title contender that many were expecting them to be, but they do just enough to slide by and win football games. Losing Saquon Barkley is one thing and those are shoes that are impossible to be filled, but Miles Saunders has come in and really kept their ground attack afloat. They are still one of the best in the Big Ten when it comes to running the football as they average close to 213 yards per game on the ground which is excellent and they can throw it as well. The only thing that’s really hit or miss with them is what Trace McSorley are we going to get because he can be hit or miss at times. There are weeks when he looks in rhythm and everything is falling in place for him but when he struggles, he lets it get to him. There is nothing they want more than to be a spoiler and ruin the streak that one of the hottest teams in the nation has going right now.
Michigan: They have been one of the hottest teams in the country and as of now, they sit in first place in the Big Ten East and with the way they’ve played over the last month and a half, this is the Michigan team that many were expecting they’d be. This is a Harbaugh-coached team when the offense is clicking, they’re running the football, the offensive line is controlling the line of scrimmage and the weapons in the passing game are all contributing and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Their turning point of the season was their game in Evanston, Illinois against the Northwestern Wildcats. They were down for a majority of that game and when they were trailing, they displayed their mental toughness. I finally think they have their quarterback in Shea Patterson and it took long enough because the guys they’ve had I think were holding them back from being the team we know they are capable of showing us. I can’t say enough about this defense and the crazy thing is last season after they lost all the stars they did to the NFL draft, I said their unit in 2017 was just as good and faster than what they had in 2016 and now, they just seem to get better each and every year. This will be the final test for Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
Penn State Player To Watch: Trace McSorley– When he’s good, the team is good, period. He knows for his team to have a chance and win this game, he will have to make a few key throws down the field and even if he must, use his feet to get into the open field.
Michigan Player To Watch: Donovan Peoples-Jones– He’s finally having the impact in his second year and he’s one of those wide receivers where you just throw it up to him and he’ll find a way to come down with the football. I see he and Patterson connecting quite a bit on Saturday.
Final Analysis: When they met last year in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions got off to such a fast start and never looked back. They made one of the better defenses in college football look terrible. Over a year later, they begin a crucial month with a big game against each other. This is such an important stretch for Michigan and if they want people to continue to take them seriously, these are the games they really need to show up for. Penn State would love nothing more than to spoil the playoff chances for the Wolverines. This definitely calls for good football.
Prediction: Michigan 21 Penn State 14
