Penn State hosts No.4 Michigan for the first meeting between the storied powers in Beaver Stadium since 2001. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 28-27 overtime win at Minnesota on Saturday. The Wolverines defeated Michigan State 31-13.
Michigan enters the game leading the Big Ten in rushing offense and is just shy of the 200-yard barrier in average yards per game. The Wolverines are 17th nationally with an average of 195.67 yards per contest. Michigan leads the league in rushing attempts (268) and rushing yards (1174) and has scored nine rushing touchdowns. Michigan is averaging 4.38 yards per carry. The Wolverines came out of the blocks with back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances, gaining 246 yards vs. Vanderbilt and a season-high 252 yards against Central Michigan. Michigan had a 234-yard rushing effort at Minnesota and followed up with 211 yards against Michigan State.
Michigan heads into Beaver Stadium tied for the conference lead in scoring offense, averaging 33.5 points per game. The Wolverines are tied with Purdue for the Big Ten lead and are tied for 15th nationally in scoring offense. Michigan has scored 25 touchdowns and nine field goals for 201 points this season. The Wolverines have registered at least three offensive touchdowns per game and tallied 27 or more points in every contest. Michigan had back-to-back 40- point efforts against Central Michigan (41-17) and then No.2 Notre Dame (47-21).
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Michigan tailback Mike Hart has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in five of the six games this season with his lowest output coming on a 91-yard effort on 23 carries against Wisconsin. Hart is second in the Big Ten and is eighth nationally in rushing, averaging 132.3 yards per contest. He has 157 carries for 794 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Hart set a season high 195 yards rushing on 31 attempts at Minnesota. He rushed 22 times for 122 yards and added a 10-yard reception in three quarters of action against Michigan State.
Michigan quarterback Chad Henne returns to his home state, (Wyomissing Pa/Wilson HS) spreading the football around to a trio of talented wide receivers. Henne has completed 80-of-129 passes for 1,103 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has thrown for over 200 yards in three of the last four games. Henne went 11-of-17 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan State. He went 17-of-24 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan State.
Mario Manningham, the Wolverines star wide receiver will miss the game due to a knee injury he sustained in the Michigan State game. Manningham had arthroscopies surgery to repair the knee Tuesday. Michigan will now depend on freshman wide receiver Greg Matthews to make some big plays.
Penn State has great balance offensively, with the team possessing the ability to beat teams both on the ground or through the air. Junior quarterback Anthony Morelli has completed 56 percent of his passes in 2006, for 1,221 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. There is a slew of talented wideouts at Morelli’s disposal in Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams. Williams is perhaps the best of the bunch but has not shown it on a consistent basis, averaging just 11.6 yards with one touchdown. He is coming off a career-high 95 yards against Minnesota and is certainly a threat for big plays every time he touches the ball. The one offensive star who is living up to the hype is veteran workhorse Tony Hung. The senior running back is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and is averaging 111.5 yards per game with seven rushing scores thus far.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions have played the run extremely well resulting in teams passing the ball more. There is n o question that the strength of the defense is one of the nation’s premier linebacking corps. Butkus Award winner Paul Posluzzny currently leads the team in tackles (50).
Michigan has been installed the favorite by a –6.0 point chalk with a total of 41. On the year, the Wolverines have a 3-2-1 record against the spread (ATS) while Penn State is 2-2-1 ATS.
