Friday, October 17, 2008

The Exorcism of the Wolverines

The theme is the same this week but the intensity has been heightened. Penn State is the better team in every facet of the game. WAY BETTER. This "Spread HD" is hot and Daryll Clark runs it to perfection. The Michigan Wolverines have an above average defense. That's it. The offensive skill players are taking a long time to adapt to Rich Rodriquez's spread offense. At 2-4, and coming off of a loss to MAC opponent Toledo at The (not-so) Big House, Michigan is scrambling for an identity. Gone are the likes of Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Jake Long, and Mario Manningham. In are Steven Threet, Sam McGuffie, and Montavious Odoms.

This is mismatch of epic proportions. Penn State should walk away with this one, on paper. However football can be as much physical as it can be mental. Will the Penn State players start out tense and anxious, knowing that these Wolverines have beaten them on 9 straight occasions over the last 12 years? Will they continue to avoid the costly turnovers? Will Penn State capitalize on the INTs and fumbles sure to come out of the hands of the Threet/Sheridan QB duo?

This Penn State team goes with the cliches. And for good reason. They are true. This team doesn't look ahead; they focus on the game at hand. That won't change this week and Penn State will take care of business in front of the white-clad homecoming crowd.

PENN STATE 38, MICHIGAN 17

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