Happy Valley Insider - STAFF PREDICTIONS: Penn State Football vs. Michigan
The Nittany Nation staff offers their predictions for Penn State's big game this weekend versus Michigan.
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Guess he forgot to change the name oh well, regardless lot of PSU predictions over here!I see that Dylan for some reason thinks we are playing Northwestern this week.
Dylan Callaghan-Croley - Nittany Nation beat writer (Penn State: 23 / Northwestern: 20)
Going to have to play an awful good football game…referines are as poised as they have been for decades.I'm not sold on Michigan or JJ McCarthy. They've built an unbeaten record and top-5 ranking on the backs of a bunch of cupcakes.
OK, our schedule hasn't been brutal either but we did beat a good Purdue team at their place and manhandled Auburn on the road as well. In short, we've been tested. Michigan hasn't.
I think we're zeroed in and ready to play...with talent and speed all over the field plus a 6th-year guy behind center. If we get a cleanly officiated game -- a very big if -- I think we pull the upset in the Big House. Won't predict a score, but who cares. Only the W or L matters in this game.
Going to have to play an awful good football game…referines are as poised as they have been for decades.
THE GAME will be preserved at all costs.
Going to have to play an awful good football game…referines are as poised as they have been for decades.
THE GAME will be preserved at all costs.
I would argue Michigan is more tested than we are. The Purdue win looks no better than UM's Maryland win. Auburn is a joke of a team that will likely finish with a losing record and 1 and 7 in the SEC with the win being the result of a blown play by the worst team in that league. Michigan played and beat Iowa at Iowa. Iowa isn't as good as last year but they still have the best defense and special teams in the Big Ten and they moved the ball fairly easily. To me, that says they are more tested. Not by much but a bit.I'm not sold on Michigan or JJ McCarthy. They've built an unbeaten record and top-5 ranking on the backs of a bunch of cupcakes.
OK, our schedule hasn't been brutal either but we did beat a good Purdue team at their place and manhandled Auburn on the road as well. In short, we've been tested. Michigan hasn't.
I think we're zeroed in and ready to play...with talent and speed all over the field plus a 6th-year guy behind center. If we get a cleanly officiated game -- a very big if -- I think we pull the upset in the Big House. Won't predict a score, but who cares. Only the W or L matters in this game.
I would argue Michigan is more tested than we are. The Purdue win looks no better than UM's Maryland win. Auburn is a joke of a team that will likely finish with a losing record and 1 and 7 in the SEC with the win being the result of a blown play by the worst team in that league. Michigan played and beat Iowa at Iowa. Iowa isn't as good as last year but they still have the best defense and special teams in the Big Ten and they moved the ball fairly easily. To me, that says they are more tested. Not by much but a bit.
Please stop with the officiating bit. This isn't 2014. We haven't had a game since Ohio State where officiating played a major role in the outcome. Personally, I think we are going to lose, maybe badly but officiating almost certainly won't play a critical role.
You mean the pick play that actually did happen and was painfully obvious the receiver didn't even try to hide the intent of the contact he initiated? Sorry, it was a good call. Stop with Indiana. You can say it was a bad call but go ahead and prove it. There is no way you can prove the call was wrong without a pylon cam and they weren't used in that game. You want him to have been out of bounds but you can't say he was because the evidence quite frankly isn't there.Purdue is better than Maryland. I'm underwhelmed by Iowa, which has one of the worst offenses in college football and could barely beat South Dakota State. Also, by the way, after that Iowa game Kirk Ferentz slammed the officiating and suggested that it had played a part in deciding the game. The referines strike again.
Speaking of officiating, I totally disagree with you. We're not always talking about spectacularly outrageous calls. The pattern is often more subtle than that...and it only works one way. There are many instances of this, but just two off the top of my head that didn't even involve the Big-2 was Minnesota in 2019 where a winning TD (and unbeaten season) was negated by a phantom pick play. Or how about Indiana in 2020. Key call blown at the end. The list goes on and you certainly don't have to go back as far as 2014 to find examples.
Personally, I think we are going to lose, maybe badly
Purdue is better than Maryland. I'm underwhelmed by Iowa, which has one of the worst offenses in college football and could barely beat South Dakota State. Also, by the way, after that Iowa game Kirk Ferentz slammed the officiating and suggested that it had played a part in deciding the game. The referines strike again.
Speaking of officiating, I totally disagree with you. We're not always talking about spectacularly outrageous calls. The pattern is often more subtle than that...and it only works one way. There are many instances of this, but just two off the top of my head that didn't even involve the Big-2 was Minnesota in 2019 where a winning TD (and unbeaten season) was negated by a phantom pick play. Or how about Indiana in 2020. Key call blown at the end. The list goes on and you certainly don't have to go back as far as 2014 to find examples.
Of course you don’t consider pictures proof, but that doesn’t surprise me considering it’s you. I also work with a lot of Indiana fans and every single one of them think they got the benefit of a bad call, so it’s not just PSU fans seeing it a certain way….I would say it’s more you seeing it a certain way.You mean the pick play that actually did happen and was painfully obvious the receiver didn't even try to hide the intent of the contact he initiated? Sorry, it was a good call. Stop with Indiana. You can say it was a bad call but go ahead and prove it. There is no way you can prove the call was wrong without a pylon cam and they weren't used in that game. You want him to have been out of bounds but you can't say he was because the evidence quite frankly isn't there.
You mean the pick play that actually did happen and was painfully obvious the receiver didn't even try to hide the intent of the contact he initiated? Sorry, it was a good call. Stop with Indiana. You can say it was a bad call but go ahead and prove it. There is no way you can prove the call was wrong without a pylon cam and they weren't used in that game. You want him to have been out of bounds but you can't say he was because the evidence quite frankly isn't there.
Penn State got the ball first and scored, but Indiana quickly responded with a touchdown and a controversial two-point conversion that sealed a victory.
Herbstreit was just as confused as everyone else when the referees ruled that Hoosier quarterback Michael Penix Jr. scored.
“I just feel for any fans, and especially players and coaches, when the game ends with a call like that,” Herbstreit said during a press conference Friday. “When I was watching it and looking at it… I kept seeing the ball hit the ground and then hit the pylon and I’m like ‘there’s no way, as far as I understand the rule, that’ll be good.
“I was more perplexed cause I thought I knew the rule, and I thought you could clearly see the ball hit the ground. So I’m still kinda confused about the whole thing,” Herbstreit added.
You mean the pick play that actually did happen and was painfully obvious the receiver didn't even try to hide the intent of the contact he initiated? Sorry, it was a good call. Stop with Indiana. You can say it was a bad call but go ahead and prove it. There is no way you can prove the call was wrong without a pylon cam and they weren't used in that game. You want him to have been out of bounds but you can't say he was because the evidence quite frankly isn't there.
I think this is one of those games were our weaknesses are their strengths on both sides of the ball with a couple of uncertainties. Offensively, their biggest weakness is our strength but they may not have to go there which means it could be a moot point. Defensively, they are good in all aspects with no 'known' weakness. That doesn't mean one isn't there at this point but if Maryland didn't expose it, I am not sure we can either. Matchup wise, we have played a single unit that is in Michigan's class all year with the exception of QB where Purdue had a lot of success. Michigan is different however.
I expect Michigan to test the perimeter run defense which was a problem last year. That was the difference in last year's game. Haskins couldn't exploit it and Corum was out with injury keeping us in the game into the fourth. If we haven't corrected it, look out because Michigan won't have to throw downfield into our strength. Regardless, the middle of the field will be open because we simply can't generate pressure without bringing linebackers and we haven't faced a single player that would start on Michigan's line or at tight end thus far much less a group of them. Thinking this game looks a lot like Michigan's game against Iowa, only we'll score more points. Michigan plays conservative on offense, runs the ball fairly well, throws to the tight end over the middle on occasion and cruises a win that isn't as close as the score. Unless of course Franklin gets desperate and we go for it on fourth down when we shouldn't, or call ill-advised fakes on special teams or start pressing and the turnovers come.
Michigan 28
Penn State 15
Personally I think officiating has become an excuse. I can buy the Indiana game. It is close but close enough that personal bias can explain it. The Minnesota play was a clear penalty. I was at the game sitting at the corner. The receiver (can't remember who it is) didn't even attempt to sell a route. He clearly was picking the defender. That can't be avoided. It was a pick, pure and simple.I'm not buying the pick play. A lot of things can be interpreted as picks, but it's like holding...typically not called...and certainly not called to decide the outcome of a game.
We also got hosed in the Indiana game. Clear as a bell.
Like I said, it's a lengthy list. I could go on...
Have you always been this negative about Penn State or is it just because you don’t like Franklin? I’m genuinely curious because if your posts are an indication of what type of fan you are, you really should find another team. I’m not sure why anyone would want to be so miserable about any team they supposedly follow, it doesn’t make sense. And this applies to a few posters on this board.I think this is one of those games were our weaknesses are their strengths on both sides of the ball with a couple of uncertainties. Offensively, their biggest weakness is our strength but they may not have to go there which means it could be a moot point. Defensively, they are good in all aspects with no 'known' weakness. That doesn't mean one isn't there at this point but if Maryland didn't expose it, I am not sure we can either. Matchup wise, we have played a single unit that is in Michigan's class all year with the exception of QB where Purdue had a lot of success. Michigan is different however.
I expect Michigan to test the perimeter run defense which was a problem last year. That was the difference in last year's game. Haskins couldn't exploit it and Corum was out with injury keeping us in the game into the fourth. If we haven't corrected it, look out because Michigan won't have to throw downfield into our strength. Regardless, the middle of the field will be open because we simply can't generate pressure without bringing linebackers and we haven't faced a single player that would start on Michigan's line or at tight end thus far much less a group of them. Thinking this game looks a lot like Michigan's game against Iowa, only we'll score more points. Michigan plays conservative on offense, runs the ball fairly well, throws to the tight end over the middle on occasion and cruises a win that isn't as close as the score. Unless of course Franklin gets desperate and we go for it on fourth down when we shouldn't, or call ill-advised fakes on special teams or start pressing and the turnovers come.
Michigan 28
Penn State 15
Personally I think officiating has become an excuse. I can buy the Indiana game. It is close but close enough that personal bias can explain it. The Minnesota play was a clear penalty. I was at the game sitting at the corner. The receiver (can't remember who it is) didn't even attempt to sell a route. He clearly was picking the defender. That can't be avoided. It was a pick, pure and simple.
I can't believe anyone is claiming that wasn't a penalty
2 hrs 24 min 28 seconds is when they replay the play.
Minnesota ran 2 defenders into Daniel George. He probably should have shifted left or right, but it does appear they are impeding his ability to run down the field.
Biggest issue: he lifted his hands up and that generally draws OPI.
Have you always been this negative about Penn State or is it just because you don’t like Franklin? I’m genuinely curious because if your posts are an indication of what type of fan you are, you really should find another team. I’m not sure why anyone would want to be so miserable about any team they supposedly follow, it doesn’t make sense. And this applies to a few posters on this board.
Agree - 1000%. Have him get rid of that Apache face paint and come out with a workman's attitude to the game, not completely pumped up like a DT. He has done that a few times and has been horrible the first few series.Clifford is the key. He tends to come out all excited and pumped up in big games then overthrows open receivers. He needs to be calm and composed and hit those open guys. That will then open up the running game.
I told Coach********just me being witty******* that if Clifford overthrows his first pass then he needs to call two Qb runs to burn off some adrenaline and get his head into the game. Some QBs just need some physical contact and he is one of those. A QB draw, an off tackle run.......then back to a pass. Repeat until he calms down. Then do same throughout the game anytime he starts to get excited and overthrow guys.
A balanced O negates their front seven. Opens up the run. Rests the D.
It’s on Clifford. Don’t be the dog today.
Agree - 1000%. Have him get rid of that Apache face paint and come out with a workman's attitude
I can't believe anyone is claiming that wasn't a penalty
Your bias blinds you from literally everythingLMAO, the Minny Defenders (2 of them) initiate head on contact to a PSU slot-receiver heading directly downfield - that is not Offensive PI when the defenders initiated 100% of the contact. You're so full of shit as per usual.
Your bias blinds you from literally everything
Yes, someone that doesn't know what they're talking about that believes everything Penn State does is perfect and when we fail it's on the refs is going to think I'm always wrong. Every play today that doesn't have a flag on Michigan you'll complain about and you'll claim every flag called on them was irrelevant. It's predictable as always. The OPI 10 out of 10 times.Ironic coming from the biased blind douche who poses as a PSU-fan to make his asinine comments. LMFAO. Too funny, that you claim the 2 Minny defenders don't initiate 100% of the initial contact when it is as plain as day and not debatable on the video provided. You're nickname isn't "Always Wrong" for nothing douche-boy.
Two of the three interceptions (the two most important; the other ended up being a glorified punt) Clifford threw were due to defensive pass interference not being called. At around 48 minutes in, you can see the first blown call. At around 2 hours and 26 minutes in, you can see the second.
2 hrs 24 min 28 seconds is when they replay the play.
Minnesota ran 2 defenders into Daniel George. He probably should have shifted left or right, but it does appear they are impeding his ability to run down the field.
Biggest issue: he lifted his hands up and that generally draws OPI.
Yeah, that was DPI but if that ball was thrown to Dotson it was an absolutely horrible throw.Two of the three interceptions (the two most important; the other ended up being a glorified punt) Clifford threw were due to defensive pass interference not being called. At around 48 minutes in, you can see the first blown call. At around 2 hours and 26 minutes in, you can see the second.