It's finally here ladies and gentlemen. That's right, it's Homecoming 2013 in State College, PA and I'm going to be here, live on campus all weekend long. The Nittany Lions are preparing to take on the Michigan Wolverines in front of a sold out and White Out crowd in Beaver Stadium!!! Kick off is at 5pm on ESPN for those watching at home, which means this is a night game too! This rivalry between Big Ten powerhouses hasn't been played in 3 years (back when RichRod was still at Michigan) and it is arguably the biggest home game of 2013. Michigan comes to town ranked #18 with an explosive offense and a surprisingly stout defense. Besides that, scheduled Homecoming events include the first ever hockey game in the brand new Pegula Ice Arena tonight at 8pm on Big Ten Network and the annual Homecoming Parade (the largest of its kind in the nation) kicking off downtown at 6pm. ROTC guards will be protecting the Lion Shrine tonight and into Saturday when... it's GAME TIME!!! And of course, Nittanyville has been going strong all week with many of the players and coaches stopping by to thank the students for their support. But let's face it, we're all here for the game, so let's get to it!
The Good
Did you see Bill O'Brien's press conference on Tuesday? That guy is pissed, and from what I hear, that anger has fueled some very productive practices all week. This team is going to come out hungry and ready to take on undefeated Michigan. The Wolverines have a high powered offense, although thankfully it's not as good as Indiana. QB Devin Gardener is a better passer than his predecessor Dennard Robinson, but he's just as prone to turning the ball over. In their non-conference games, Michigan has struggled mightily against severely under matched competition in Akron and UConn (nowhere near the caliber of UCF). They did win each of those games, but in the final seconds. Don't expect that Michigan team to come out against Penn State on Saturday night, though. Still, it's encouraging to know that Michigan has plenty of chinks in their armor. And let's not forget that this game will be played on national TV, at night, in the single greatest atmosphere in ALL of college football. If crowd support really does affect games, Penn State will be playing with a big time advantage.
The Bad
Although Devin Gardener does like to throw it to the other team, keep in mind that he's a "duel threat" quarterback, which means most of the danger in playing against him comes from his ability to find holes and make you pay with his legs. Penn State will have to keep a spy on him all game if they don't want to be embarrassed again. That won't be easy with a banged up linebacking core and All-American left tackle Taylor Lewan opening holes for Gardener. Here's hoping the defensive line with stars like Da'Quan Jones and Deion Barnes can get some good pressure and force some mistakes. RB Fitz Toussaint is a workhorse back. He's got better stats than Zwinak, but that's mostly because he doesn't have to split carries with two other quality backs. He's still plenty dangerous, though, so watch out. In the passing game, WR Jeremy Gallon is almost as dangerous as Allen Robinson... ok, maybe not, but he's still really good. He likes to make the big, game-changing plays, so the young Penn State secondary will be tested yet again. Hopefully this time it turns out better than the last two times. On defense, there's a chance that Michigan gets back their star linebacker, Jake Ryan for tomorrow. He's All-American caliber, so that could be really bad if it happens.
The Story
You want a story? Penn State vs Michigan under the lights in Happy Valley, there's your story! What else do you really need?! One interesting side story, besides all the history and tradition these two programs bring to this game, is that Michigan LB James Ross III went to the same high school as Penn State star WR Allen Robinson. Ross was the big name recruit, whereas Robinson flew under the radar, only picking up one big name offer from Penn State. These two have played against each other before and know each other well. Expect some fireworks when they line up tomorrow night.
The Prediction
Ok, I'll admit it, my gut has never been all that trustworthy. More often than not, when I have a "gut feeling" about a game, it doesn't come true. Nevertheless, my gut is telling me that the Lions have a serious shot in this game. Michigan is only favored by 3 points and that crowd is going to be ridiculous. Now, things could go wrong quickly and Penn State could end up getting whipped like they did last year in the much hyped Ohio State game. However, if a few breaks go our way, Penn State can get a little luck to compliment its raw talent, and the stadium atmosphere can intimidate the Michigan players enough to force some mistakes, I'm just saying, crazier things have happened. Either way, I honestly wouldn't put my money on Penn State. Sorry guys. But remember, if we do pull off the win, it's going to be that much more AMAZING!!! As for my prediction: Christian Hackenberg continues his outstanding freshman campaign with 250 yds and a TD pass to Allen Robinson who snags at least 7 catches for yet another 100 yd game. Zwinak provides the biggest impact in the rushing game with 2 TDs, and Sam Ficken hits another FG. On defense, Mike Hull and Trevor Williams each get a pick. But it's all not enough as Penn State falls to Michigan 24-27 in a close one. They go into the bye week with Ohio State looming, and let's just say an 0-3 start in Big Ten play is definitely not out of the question.
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