Penn State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Michigan in Week 11

1. Penn State wins the football game

Penn State sits in quite the position heading into this game. Just think about it. They’ll be playing the game in their backyard, against an opponent with a massive distraction lingering their locker room amidst NCAA investigation, in what’s essentially a playoff game for the Nittany Lions.

James Franklin is notorious for not being able to win the big game, that’s no secret. Franklin is 3-16 against top-10 opponents in his career. With a blemish already on its record, Penn State has to get this one if they want to keep their aspirations for a playoff berth alive. Franklin has arguably his best team since arriving to Happy Valley this season and it could derail his career if he comes up short of expectations once again.

This is a tough opponent to draw for a Michigan team that’s been submerged in negative media attention for the last three weeks. As much as most people want to believe that those players and coaches are totally “blocking out the noise,” I think that’s naive. These are college kids. And with the Harbaugh suspension from the Big Ten coming as late as the day before the game, I think this will ultimately plague the team.

The way the cards are laid, Nittany Lions have a lot on their side in this one.