Penn State Football: Predicting the outcome of the Michigan game

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks off the field with running back Saquon Barkley /

How will Penn State football fare this weekend against the Michigan Wolverines?

Penn State made it through the first six games of the year with an undefeated record and, thanks to some upsets, a No. 2 ranking. The Nittany Lions are in the driver’s seat for another Big Ten East division crown and a possible spot in the College Football Playoff. However, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines will want to have something to say about that.

The Nittany Lions were trounced by the Wolverines in Ann Arbor a year ago and also lost to them during the 2015 season at home. Those losses, paired with how much is on the line for Penn State, will make Saturday’s game even more important.

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Star running back Saquon Barkley has had a tough time on the ground lately and things won’t get much easier this week with Michigan’s tough run defense. Fortunately, Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead has found other creative ways to get Barkley involved in the offense.

Penn State has been stout on defense and has allowed an average of just nine points through the first six games. The defense is going to have to keep up its stellar play in order to beat the Wolverines Saturday night.

Beaver Stadium will be an electric atmosphere by the time the game rolls around. Festivities will get started early on Saturday with ESPN’s College GameDay set to broadcast its popular pregame show live from the lawn of Old Main.

107,000 fans dressed in white will want to make themselves known Saturday night to a primetime, national audience.

Read on to see the VBR staff’s weekly fearless predictions.

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