Penn State Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Michigan in Week 8
In a huge conference battle, Penn State football will host the Michigan Wolverines Saturday night at Beaver Stadium.
If there is anything to be learned from week seven of college football heading into week eight, it is that anything can happen and any team can pull an upset- no matter where and when the game is taking place.
While there are surely still more upsets to be had this year, the Michigan Wolverines are going to need a perfect game and then some if they want to be one of those teams Saturday night as they head into Happy Valley to take on the No. 2 ranked and undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions.
The Wolverines lead the all-time series 13 wins to Penn State’s seven, and were more than likely one of the main reasons the Nittany Lions were on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff as they manhandled Penn State 49-10 in Ann Arbor.
The year 2017 breeds a different story as Michigan has survived the first six games of the year with just one loss after a few close calls and just five starters from a year ago.
ESPN’s College GameDay will be in attendance for the second time in a Big Ten venue this season.
Here’s how to watch Saturday’s Penn State vs. Michigan game:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: University Park, PA
Venue: Beaver Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
The Nittany Lions entered 2017 as one of few teams with more than one Heisman Trophy hopeful in running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Trace McSorley. As expected, Penn State’s offense has been electric for majority of the season, but it’s their defense that has turned heads as they currently rank first in the conference in points against with just 54 allowed on the year.
On the flip side, Michigan’s offense has been worrisome for most of the year and owes the defense a lot of credit for their 5-1 mark up to this point. With quarterback Wilton Speight out with a broken vertebrae, John O’Korn is now the main guy and will need a fast start to get his confidence up and rollin’. Michigan will need to control the tempo on offense, which means setting up and converting third and short opportunities. On defense, it is all about limiting the big plays from Barkley and McSorley.
For Penn State, it is important the team does not let the magnitude and hype of this game get to their heads. A year ago, the team was riding high as the underdog most of the year and the surprise of the college football season. As they face their first test as the second ranked team in the nation, Penn State will need to remain focused and not let the moment get to their heads.
Prediction
The setting is put in place to be the perfect game and atmosphere for the Nittany Lions to prevail. Including in the mix is College GameDay present, a night game, fan white-out, and the university also enjoying a visit from 2020 No. 1 overall prospect Bryan Breese.
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Michigan will likely put up a much tougher fight than people expect, as they have been in high-level games already and have taken part in close contests. A low scoring first half keeps the Wolverines in the game, but Penn State and home crowd are too much for the Michigan defense to slow down and a late touchdown by Barkley seals the deal and moves the Lions to 7-0.
Final score: Penn State 27, Michigan 14