Michigan Football: Roundtable of predictions for Penn State

The group at GBMWolverine.com are at it again with this week’s prognostications on how they feel the post Thanksgiving throwdown in Ann Arbor between Michigan football and winless Nittany Lions will roll.

Michigan Football finally put an end to its three-game losing skid last week and back at the Big House Saturday, the Wolverines can look to win back-to-back contests for the first time since last year.

Michigan comes into the game as a slight favorite over the Nittany Lions and even though there are just two wins between the programs, it should be a fun game and here are our predictions:

Jarred Dettmer: Michigan 38, Penn State 34

Michigan football appears to have found its quarterback in Cade McNamara. Penn State’s quarterback position remains cloudy as Will Levis started last week but was replaced by Sean Clifford in the 3rd quarter. However, a lack of QB stability hasn’t mattered against the Michigan defense this year.

Names like Rocky Lombardi and Noah Vedral come to mind as fringe starters who had career days against the Maize and Blue. I can’t see Michigan football holding Penn State under 30 points but I believe in the U-M offense enough to forecast a win.

Nick Popio: Michigan 37, Penn State 27

Normally Michigan football would be getting prepped for their annual Thanksgiving weekend tussle with Ohio State, but that has been pushed back two weeks and are primed for Penn State instead.

The Wolverines are coming into this matchup scratching and clawing to try and get back to .500 and put together a short winning streak. Penn State remains without a victory at 0-5 and only three more chances to avoid the dreaded winless campaign.

This game is about the quarterbacks who are heading in different directions. Cade McNamara is trending upwards, while the combination of Will Levis and Sean Clifford is going in the opposite direction for the Nittany Lions.

With the maize and blue hosting James Franklin and company in the Big House, that bodes well for Jim Harbaugh to notch another win under his belt to cool heat he’s been receiving. Penn State is due, but Michigan knows this is a must have win no matter what.

Chris Peterson: Michigan 31, Penn State 28

If Michigan football gets Jalen Mayfield back in the lineup today that will certainly help and the offensive line is going to be a huge key. Statistically, Penn State is pretty good on offense and defense — its biggest issue has been turnovers.

The Wolverines will need to establish the run, control the clock as much as they can and try to keep their defense off the field. Penn State has weapons and even though Sean Clifford has been mistake prone, if he plays and I expect him to some, the secondary could get exposed.

Yet, for the first time all season, I think Michigan football gets a break or two on a fumble and finds a way to snare a couple of turnovers, which gives them just enough to edge out Penn State.