Michigan Football game Saturday: Michigan vs Penn State, Odds and Prediction for Week 11

Michigan football has a huge game on Saturday against Penn State and here’s a look at the odds as well as our prediction for the outcome. 

It’s another meeting between Jim Harbaugh and James Franklin and for Michigan football — both programs really — it’s a massive game.

The Nittany Lions were on a three-game losing streak not that long ago. But a win last week against Maryland has them back in the top 25 and at 6-3, Penn State could still work its way into the New Year’s Six conversation with three straight wins.

Penn State plays Michigan football and Michigan State and while the Nittany Lions aren’t going to win the Big Ten East, they would be ranked near the top 12 if they finished 9-3 and my bet is they would at least be playing in the Peach or Fiesta Bowl.

For Michigan, the consequences are just as clear. If Ohio State beats Michigan State on Nov. 20, the Wolverines would win by the Big Ten East by winning out.

Ohio State comes calling for the last game of the season but Penn State, on the road, will be a huge challenge too. Jim Harbaugh is 1-2 in Happy Valley and the Wolverines last win there was in 2015.

We’ll have a bunch on this matchup leading up to Saturday but here’s a look at the odds, as well as an early prediction for Saturday’s showdown.

Michigan Football vs Penn State odds Week 11

According to WynnBET’s Week 11 college football odds, Penn State is a 1.5-point favorite over Michigan football right now. The over/under for the game 48.5 and the money line is -120 compared to +100 for the Wolverines right now.

Michigan Football vs Indiana Prediction Week 11

The Wolverines (and yours truly) are 7-2 this season against the spread. Michigan covered last week against Indiana and honestly had a good chance to do so against Michigan State and Rutgers in the two defeats this season.

Penn State is better than its record seems to indicate. The Nittany Lions have been dealing with injuries, especially to quarterback Sean Clifford, who missed most of the Iowa game.

Clifford is back and is probably as close to 100 percent as he’s going to be. He will still run a little but has completed 64 percent of his passes this season.

Jahan Dotson has been incredible and averages more than 100 yards per game. But Penn State’s running game has struggled and the X-factor for me is the pass rush of Michigan.

Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo have been lights out. The Big Ten admitted that Ojabo’s forced fumble that Hutchinson recovered for a touchdown against Michigan State, which was overturned, should have stood.

Regardless of the fact that Michigan is 9-0 if that is called correctly, it’s yet another forced fumble for Ojabo which would give him five total for the season in addition to eight sacks. Hutchinson has 6.5 sacks and I believe that duo will make Clifford’s afternoon a total nightmare.

Penn State will get the ball to Dotson some — he’s too good to be contained — but the Wolverines will run the ball better and win the turnover battle.

Red-zone struggles on offense will keep the game close but Michigan wins it 23-20.

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