Michigan football: 3 expectations against Penn State

No. 5 Michigan football (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) is set to face No. 10 Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) this weekend in a Big Ten showdown. Here are three expectations for the Wolverines vs Penn State.

3. QB pressure

Michigan’s defensive line has recorded over 20 sacks this season through six games. The Wolverines have the pass rush to take on just about any offensive line in the nation, but against Penn State’s O-line, I expect a lot of sacks and pressures.

The Nittany Lions have a somewhat mobile quarterback — Sean Clifford — and he likes to move around a good bit, but sometimes makes poor reads or takes ugly sacks because of it. Michigan’s defensive line matches up with Penn State’s defensive line extremely well on the outside and inside of the line.

Key players

Penn State’s key offensive lineman will be tackle Olu Fashanu. Olu is one of the best exterior offensive linemen in the Big Ten, and maybe the nation, though has not seen a D-line like Michigan’s yet.

Michigan’s key player will be Mike Morris. Morris is filling the shoes of the great Michigan pass rushers before him and should have himself an outing this weekend. Morris has recorded five sacks so far this year and leads both the team and the Big Ten in sacks (conference play only).

2. Rushing yards

Penn State is unquestionably the best team Michigan has faced so far and has the defense to match. The Nittany Lions’ defense is arguably the best in the conference and will push the Wolverines’ offense to its limits.

Junior sensation Blake Corum (RB) will have his work cut out for him. Penn State stops the run especially well and will have its eyes locked on Corum as all of Michigan’s competition should. Corum has compiled 735 rushing yards (2nd in Big Ten, 3rd nationally) this season — over 120 rushing yards against each of Michigan’s conference opponents — and could be on pace to make a Heisman run this year.

Corum has 11 touchdowns (1st in Big Ten, 2nd nationally) on the ground this year and is showing no signs of stopping. Even against one of the best defenses in the Big Ten (and possibly the nation), Iowa, Corum ran for 133 yards and a touchdown. If Penn State can stop Corum, Michigan may have to find another path, but that is a huge “if.”

Despite Penn State having a stellar defense, I can see Corum going for over 100 in this game.

1. Field goals

Penn State’s defense is scary good, but even more so in the red zone. So far this year the Nittany Lions rank 8th in red zone defense and 5th among Power 5 teams. Penn State defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, is one of the best in the game and has his D-line and secondary playing at an elite level.

Michigan’s offense is tied for 26th in red zone offense, which is by no means bad but makes me think this game could be won off of the leg of Jake Moody.

Jake Moody is one of (if not the) best kickers in the nation and is as reliable as a kicker can get. Moody is 9/12 on field goals (2 of the 3 misses came from over 40 yards, one over 50) and 30 for 30 on extra points. If Michigan can’t push the pile against Penn State, there is a good chance Moody will be needed to bail the Wolverines out — and he is more than capable of doing so.

I see a lot of Moody coming this weekend, and preferably that is to kick extra points.