Penn State at Michigan

How perceptions can change. Michigan loses in The Big House to Appalachian St.te and then gets shredded by Oregon. Everyone is down on them. But did this team suddenly lose all the talent that earned them a Top 5 preseason ranking? Hardly! We take you back to the '98 season when a loaded Michigan team drops their first two games, both as a favorite, and everyone is screaming "overrated." What do they do? They go on to win the Big Ten title. That year they faced Penn State at home as a +3 dog. The result? They hammered Joe Pa's Nittany Lions 58-21! The '88-89 Michigan team also started 0-2, and went on to win the Big Ten Championship as well. So beware of history, because it has a tendency to repeat itself. The fact is, the 0-2 start makes this line chock full of value. Most folks still remember those first two games and have discoutned Michigan's 38-0 pasting of Notre Dame last week. Penn State has not beaten Michigan since 1996! It won't happen this season either. The eight straight Michigan wins vs. the Nittany Lions is the longest such streak against Joe Pa in his lustrious coaching career. Michigan is also 24-1 in their Big Ten openers. Penn State was in a game vs. Notre Dame leading by just 7 late in the third quarter, while Michigan sent an early message to ND, that this team is back! Last year Michigan held this Penn State team to -14 yards rushing on their own field! Michigan held a 17-3 lead with a who cares TD generated by Penn State late. Ryan Mallett didn't have to pass much last week, but when he did early he showed he was capeable. He connected for three TD passes early, then Michigan turned the offense over to Micheal Hart. There is no doubt in our eyes that Michigan will show up big, as they have their swagger back, and they have the better team, getting points at home.