The Big Ten East Division is one of the best in the country this season, and there are a number of teams who still have a shot to win it. No. 7 Penn State will be hosting No. 16 Michigan this weekend in a game that will go a long way towards deciding the eventual champion. The Nittany Lions have one of the best defenses in the country, and Michigan will counter with some elite talent on offense.
Penn State comes into this game with a record of 6-0, and it has been dominant all season long. The Nittany Lions are 4-0 at home so far this season, and they have a tradition of playing well in Happy Valley. Michigan has won three straight games since being blown out by Wisconsin. The Wolverines will need some help if they are going to win the Big Ten this season. Penn State is a nine-point favorite in this game.
Penn State Defense Has Been Solid
Penn State has allowed just 8.2 points per game this season, and they have been one of the best defensive teams in the country. The Nittany Lions have 27 sacks through their first six games and have also forced eight fumbles. Penn State will be extremely aggressive on that side of the ball in this game, and the raucous home crowd should make this defense even better.
The Nittany Lions have averaged over 190 rushing yards per game, and they throw the ball extremely well also. Penn State can score points in a hurry, though it would rather win games with its defense. Quarterback Sean Clifford has thrown for over 1,500 yards this season, while also running for close to 300 yards.
Michigan Offense Still Coming Up Short
If Michigan is going to pull off this road upset on Saturday, its offense is going to have to play much better. The Wolverines are averaging over 30 points per game, but they are capable of being much more explosive than they have been this season. Running back Zach Charbonnet leads the team with 376 rushing yards and five touchdowns and needs to be a force in this game.
Defensive back Lavert Hill leads the Wolverines with two interceptions this season, and the Michigan defense is usually extremely aggressive. Michigan has 21 sacks on the season, and it will try to use the blitz to slow down the Penn State offense in this game. The Wolverines gave up 25 straight points to Illinois a week ago, and they will need to play better in this game.
Nittany Lions Blow Out Inconsistent Wolverines
This game has the potential to be one of the best games of the season, but it’s hard to know what to expect from Michigan. They have the ability and potential to win the Big Ten, but they could also get shut down in this game. Look for the Penn State defense to show up in a big way in this game, and that will be the ultimate difference in who wins. The Nittany Lions are just a better all-around team, and they will cover the nine-point spread over the Michigan Wolverines in this game.
