Penn State Preview 2023
The #2 ranked Michigan Wolverines, 9-0, travel to Happy Valley to battle the #9 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, 8-1, for the 27th meeting between the two schools. Michigan is a 4.5 point betting favorite after the Harbaugh suspension the day before the game, and the over/under is 45 points; the temperature is predicted to be 44 degrees with the wind at 9 mph. The Wolverines lead the series against the two rivals, 16-10 with a record of 7-6 at Beaver Stadium. Jim Harbaugh is 5-3 against the Nitany Lions, and 83-25 since taking the Wolverine Head Job. James Franklin is 3-6 against the Wolverines; he has accumulated a 86-37 record at Penn State.
Michigan's vaulted defense will face its toughest test of the season with Penn State's offense which is led by Sophomore Drew Allar at Quarterback; he has thrown for 20 TDs and completes 62.8% of his passes with only one interception. Coach Franklin also utilizes backup quarterback, Beau Pribula, in running situations; he has 4 TDs and averages 5.5 yards per carry. The Nittany Lions feature one of the best tandem of running backs in NCAA football with Sophomores Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton; the pair average 117 yards a game, and have scored 11 touchdowns this season. They also catch the ball effectively out of the backfield with 29 receptions for another TD. Redshirt Senior Trey Potts backs them up. Penn State's top receiver is KeAndre Lambert-Smith; he has 51 receptions for 4 TDs. Allar also throws to Junior Tight Ends Theo Johson and Junior Tyler Warren, and Senior Wideout Dante Cephas have accounted for 12 receiving TDs this season. Redshirt Sophomore Harrison Wallace, Redshirt Sophomore Liam Clifford, Junior Malik McLain, and Redshirt Freshman Kaden Saunders are other contributing receivers that the Wolverine defense will have to prepare for although Wallace has been out with an arm injury. The Penn State Offensive Line are led by Senior Left Tackle Olu Fashanu; Redshirt Junior J.B. Nelson is at Left Guard, Senior Hunter Nourzad is the Center, Senior Sal Wormley is at Right Guard, and Senior Caeden Wallace is at Right Tackle. They average an athletic 325 lbs. and are an experienced group that will hope to establish a running game with a time of possession advantage in this game. Redshirt Freshman Vega Ioane, Sophomore Drew Shelton, and Redshirt Junior Nick Dawkins are key backups. Penn State only managed 240 total yards against the Ohio State defense a few weeks ago, and was 2 of 19 in 3rd and 4th down conversions while losing, 12-20; they only gained 49 yards on the ground and had 15 first downs, and were nearly 9 minutes behind the Buckeyes in time of possession whlle being forced into 9 punts with one red zone opportunity. The Buckeyes had 4 sacks in the win. Penn State hopes to improve their offensive performance against another solid Big Ten defense.
On Defense, Penn State is led by Junior Defensive End Demeioun "Chop" Robinson; the Maryland transfer didn't play against Maryland last week so he may not be 100%, but he is expected to contribute. The other defensive end is Redshirt Senior Adisa Isaac; he leads Penn State with 10.5 tackles for loss including 6.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hits. Sophomore Dani Dennis-Sutton will also see action at defensive end, and possibly Junior Amin Vanover, if healthy. Sophomore Zane Durant, Redshirt Senior Hakeem Beamon, and Redshirt Senior Dvon Ellies clog up the interior defensive line. The Nittany Lions have a solid linebacking corps with Junior SAM Curtis Jacobs, Redshirt Sophomore MIKE Kobe King, and Sophomore WILL Abdul Carter; Jacobs leads the team with 36 tackles; Carter has 34 and King has 30, and the threesome have 12.5 tackles for loss including 4.5 sacks plus 7 quarterback hits. Redshirt Sophomore Dom DeLuca and Redshirt Freshman Keon Wylie could also contribute at linebacker. In the backfield, Junior Kalen King is an outstanding cornerback; both Kalen and Kobe King are brothers who played high school football in Detroit at Cass Tech. Junior Safety Jaylen Reed is also from Detroit; he has 32 tackles. Sophomore Safety Kevin Winston has 29 tackles. Redshirt Sophomore Zakee Wheatley could also see action at Safety. Senior Johnny Dixon is the other cornerback. Redshirt Senior Daequon Hardy and Sophomore Cam Miller will also see action at Nickel and cornerback. This group has only allowed 7 passing TDs this season. Ohio State completed 22 of 35 passes against Penn State for 286 yards for 13 first downs, but only one TD. Penn State will gear up to rush McCarthy in obvious passing situation, and disrupt his efficient passing game.
On Special Teams, Senior Alex Felkins is their leading scorer with 78 points; he is 13 of 16 in field goals with all 39 extra points. His longest field goal this season is 50 yards, and he is only one of 3 in 50+ yard attempts with one blocked. Their kickoff specialist is Redshirt Sophomore Gabe Nwosu with 39 touchbacks in 59 attempts with two out of bounds. Senior Australian Riley Thompson handles the punting with 35 punts for a 44.4 yard average; he has 13 downed inside the 20 with 15 fair catches, and he's kicked 7 for 50+ yards. Penn State has had one punt blocked. Daequon Hardy handles punt returns, and Nick Singleton is the kickoff returner; Singleton has 11 returns for a 25.3 yard average including a 51 yarder, and Hardy has a 34 yard punt return this season. Both teams will most likely play a conservative special teams game although they may try to block a punt or two.
Both teams want to control the football, and run the ball; therefore, both teams are gearing up to stop the run. It will be a defensive struggle, and the first team to 20 points should win. The difference in this game will be the most effective passing attack. On paper, Michigan has the edge with a much more effective and efficient passer who also has the ability to run; Drew Allar doesn't have the ability to scramble or run the ball effectively against good, solid defenses like the Wolverines have. I believe Michigan will be able to run the ball more effectively against Penn State because they do have a more diverse passing game. Michigan will need to play their best football of the season to win this one at Happy Valley. The difference in this game will be J.J. McCarthy. Go Blue!
Michigan 27 Penn State 10