Picking the game
Tony Garcia: After struggling to move the ball on the ground a season ago, the Nittany Lions found two young capable backs in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Joey Porter Jr and Kalen King are two extremely talented cornerbacks, which will likely make things tough on Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson. It will be up to J.J McCarthy to win this game and a key third down conversion with his legs is enough to help Michigan pull away late.
The pick: U-M 23, Penn State 16.
Carlos Monarrez: After surviving a scare at Indiana, the 6-0 Wolverines get their first true test against the Nittany Lions. Expect the offense to be powered once again by Blake Corum and the run game, which should face a challenge against Penn State’s fifth-ranked run defense. But you can bet Corum and Co. will be spurred on by a pregame message from Mike Hart. The pick: U-M 38, Penn State 28.
Rainer Sabin: In their first test against a complete team, Michigan will be challenged on both sides. But the Wolverines should have the firepower on offense to knock back Penn State and the strength to hold the line on defense. With the crowd behind them, they should move to 7-0. The pick: U-M 28, Penn State 23.
Jeff Seidel: Penn State is going to slow down Michigan’s running game, putting this one on J.J. McCarthy. The Wolverines will have a hard time scoring in the red zone but they will get enough big plays, including a few critical ones from McCarthy’s legs, to pull out the come-from-behind victory. The pick: U-M
27, Penn State 24.
Shawn Windsor: The Nittany Lions can run. But they usually can. They've got a solid quarterback and the best speed and athleticism that the Wolverines will have seen so far. With the Big Ten the way it is this season it's hard to say what kind of test this truly is, so let's say this: Penn State is the most talented team U-M has faced and will want payback from a year ago. The Wolverines still have a little too much and J.J. McCarthy, who was good against Indiana, shows even more. The pick: U-M 26, Penn State 23.