The Michigan Wolverines travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State, and after two less-than-stellar performances against Michigan State and Indiana, many don't think Michigan has a chance to win this game. However, it'd be a major mistake to overlook this talented Wolverines team. Here are three reasons why Michigan is guaranteed to win on Saturday:
1) Are we sure Penn State is that good?
Penn State is accepted as the No. 2 team in the country - but they haven't had to prove it yet. Iowa is the only Power 5 team they've played that currently has a winning record and they needed a touchdown on the last play to win that game. The Wolverines will easily be the toughest test the Nittany Lions have faced this season. We don't know how they'll respond, but if the Iowa game is any indication, it's not good for them.
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2) Michigan's dominant defense
Both Michigan and Penn State have quality defenses, but there's no denying that the Wolverines have the better unit. The Wolverines have demonstrated their dominance on that side of the ball all season, allowing the fewest yards per game (224) of anyone in the country and rank in the top 10 in points allowed (14.7 per game). And, perhaps most importantly for this game, have the nation's sixth-best rush defense. That's crucial because...
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3) Take away Saquon Barkley - then what?
...we saw Penn State's offense completely stall against Northwestern when they loaded the box to stop Saquon Barkley. He ended up breaking free for a big run in the second half that essentially ended the game, but Michigan won't let that happen. They have elite athletes all over the field on defense, and with a top three pass defense in the country, they can afford to load up on stopping the Heisman frontrunner.
Look for defensive coordinator Don Brown to adopt the Alabama strategy against Leonard Fournette - load up the box and put defensive backs in one-on-one coverage. Michigan's secondary has shown they can be relied on, and with their strength along the defensive line, Barkley shouldn't have any room to run.
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