Lets Talk Penn State Game

I don't know why I'm so pumped up for this game but I really am. I know all the stats point towards PSU, but I have a good feeling.

Of course it's easy to feel that way knowing that whether we play hard or not, execute well or hold on to the ball, the refs will win it for us.

I think Michigan wins this one.

I like the matchup. Best set of wideouts and best rushing attack the Lion D has had to face all year. I still doubt Clark and this offense in a big game without Derek Williams to lean on. I lover UM D-Line vs PSU O-line. This matchup favors Michigan. B Graham will continue to dominate.

Michigan will put a lot of pressure of PSU to score thorughout all four quarters. I dont think they can keep up.

34-24, Michigan.

PSU's O-line isn't very good. Iowa exposed them. If Michigan does the same, I think M will win...quite comfortably.

Also, Minor needs to step up and rush for more than 125 yards. (That will be classified in the duh category)

Keys to the game?

I really think that if Michigan can score more points than Penn State, that Michigan can win. This is especially true if Michigan runs for lots of yards and passes well, and plays good defense. Good punting and solid special teams would also help. Solid coaching would be a benefit. Also, winning the turnover battle would be good.

Feelings on PSU?

A good university in the middle of Pennsylvania. They're LINEBACKAH YEW. Other than this week, I don't have many feelings about Penn Shtate.

Do I anticipate a big day from anyone?

I'm not certain, but if anyone has a big day, it would probably be a member of either Penn State or Michigan. Probably a starter, though it could be a backup. 50/50, with a 100% chance of that. Lack of Sugar Coat.

Oh yeah, the vendors are going to have a big day too.

So is the drum major.

And, the cash machine in the athletic department will be a big winner on Saturday.

I think I covered it all. This thread can be locked.

2 weeks to prepare. Tate healthy, Molk back. Graham on a motherf-ing mission.

I get the sense the crowd will be all in for this one and give psu an early preview of the new big house.

big game, 'tis a good team (not great) that is incredibly beatable. michigan wins.

go blue!!

That BG will have a MONSTER game and have 2-3 sacks to back up his words. Tate will be fired up coming back to a home game and look to bounce back from a bad game. He'll be more patient looking for his receivers first rather than run. When he should run he'll take off making sure to avoid the big hit. I think Tate's gonna have a huge passing game with 0 INT and 3 passing TD's and 1 rushing TD

I think the major key to this game is going to be stopping Royster and I feel our d-line is more than capable of doing so. Once that happens and the ball is put into Clarks hands the new Big House comes into play making it hard for him to call audibles at the line. I think that if we jump out to an early lead we have a great shot at winning (not that we don't have a chance if we don't) because I don't think PSU is built to come from behind.

Don't pay attention to the rankings. Penn State is in the top 15 only because of their pre-season ranking. Do you really think the voters would vote Penn State that high according to their performance on the field thus far this year? I don't. Just because they've played non-conference patsies will not make the voters drop them in the rankings.

If Michigan was ranked in the top ten pre-season, we'd still be in the top 25 even after our 2 losses. This is why I think the rankings should not be released until after the first week or 2. Too many times the rankings are created according to how the team will fare against its schedule, rather than how they'd stack up against a comparable team.

Just take a step back and look at both teams individually. What has Penn State done to earn them a sure lock for this game? Why doesn't Michigan deserve more than just a "chance" of taking this game? I think the layperson sees the rankings, that PSU is in the top 15 and Michigan is unranked, and doesn't give Michigan a chance.

During any normal season (last year excluded), we've owned Penn State. Why should Saturday be any different? Penn State has consistently been overrated.

I would love to see a bone crushing tackle for loss of the Glenn Winston type on Royster issued by Graham...or like 10 of those

sposed to rain. don't know if its gonna be a fast rain or a slow rain...

..who do you like in a coaching matchup - The godfather of the spread and shred wizard with snake oil or a should-be-nursing home resident, "come to penn staaaaaate" screamer who's kid does all the signal calling? That's what I thought

We will win. I will be drunk. I will scream obscenities at people who oppose Michigan's dominance. Bitches will like my new haircut.

Mich. 31-28.

I want to say we'll win by more but I think a lot of it will depend on Tate's decision making and our O-Line/RB play.

We have not won a game without scoring less than 30, and I think that'll be true on Saturday too. If we score at least 30 we'll probably win, if we don't then I'm a lot less confident.

I think it's on our D-line...Clark under pressure makes Clauson look like Drew Brees. If we get consistent pressure their offense is going nowhere.

Passing games... ours AND theirs. Penn State'll probably show us the best LBs we've seen all year so pass protection AND middle of the field coverage will be a big concern. I don't think Tate'll be able to run as much as we'd like, but if he can get enough time to read the coverage we should be okay.

I'm not terribly impressed with their wideouts, but Clark has it in him to find the open man. I think it helps us that they still really don't know who they are as a team.

Also just a hunch, but I also feel pretty good about this game.

I think UM has a solid chance at winning this game. As others have posted, I'm not sold on PSU being that great. They're solid, but definitely not an overwhelming favorite in my book. PSU's offense hasn't really exploded this year so I'd like to think that even with UM's defense, PSU's offense isn't going to go crazy.

The only game where UM's offense has really been held in check is MSU for 3.5 quarters and we all know how much emphasis they put on the UM game. Even against Iowa, who appears to have a pretty good defense, the UM offense put 21 points on the board (defense scored the other TD) despite Tate's worst game so far and the multitude of turnovers.

If UM offense can minimize the turnovers and the defense doesn't give up big plays to the PSU offense, I think UM can come out with a W.

I agree with this being a big momentum builder. If UM can beat PSU, they've got what appears to be a bad Illini team and despite a victory over OSU, a Purdue team that currently sits at 2-5 for their next two games.

I'm smack dab in the middle of Nittany Lion country and I have gotta say, the locals are MUCH quieter this year than in recent years past. Usually someone's got some kinda smack to give me when they see the sweatshirt, but outside of a few people at work, the PSU fans have been pretty hush hush this week.

I think there's a healthy respect and/or fear of the potential of our team knocking 'em off. I also think our boys come into this one WAAAAAY hungrier.

Suddenly wish it was Saturday-- BTW I'm going to be watching with my father-in-law, a PSU alum. Could be a domestic call by the end of the game-- wish me luck.

I'm naturally a pessimist, and I think Penn State takes this game, albeit closely. Their defense has been historically successful at defending the spread, especially run-based spread offenses. And that makes me fear Saturday evening that I live with 3 kids who graduated from Penn State.

I'm looking for some new "wrinkles" on offense. For example, that pitch play to the outside where the QB actually keeps the ball; Denard actually keeping the ball on a zone-read.

This is the healthiest the team's been since pre-MSU, and they basically had two weeks to prepare for Penn State. I know that they only take it "one week at a time," but does anyone really think the coaches didn't work on some stuff related to the PSU game?

Also, Brandon Graham is one intense dude.

i am bummed a little. i have dvr so i can watch the game when i get home. i have a new sister in law and she is really helping my brother and i become closer, for which we were not growing up. she is athletic as my brother and i are and we are entered into a four person volleyball tourny this saturday. excited to play with family, bummed that i will miss the live game, happy that i have dvr to watch it later! GO BLUE beat the lions!!!

This is only PSU's second road game and I doubt they faced the same challange at Illinois. We've looked pretty good at home (the offense anyway) so I expect that most of the mistakes will be on the Penn State side. They couldn't win in Ann Arbor when the Stadium was quiet.

I like that we're healthier, and I feel the D is getting more comfortable in the system...ready to make a statement against a suspect O-line. The LB's need to have a great game & get us off the field on 3rd down. Win (or don't lose) the turnover battle and rush for 200+ yards. If you look at last year's PSU game, Minor is licking his chops and gets 150 or so to take the pressure off the QB's. GO BLUE!

UM 34 - PSU 27

It all depends on the offense. Tate had a crappy game in Iowa City and didn't do much last week. He could come out cold and insecure. If we lose it will be due to more freshman quarterback mistakes.