Michigan offensive highlights v. Penn State, 14 OCT 06

[Poole1Dan]

OMG. I just realized a really cool fact:

-In three of the last four seasons that we've played Penn State on the road (1997, 1999, and 2006), we finished the season with at least 10 wins, a BCS Bowl appearance, and a top 10 finish. considering we are playing the Nittney Lions on the road in 2008, I'd say karma is on our side big time

[MVillani1985]

Maybe, maybe not. It just happened with strange coincidence that a team that played Penn State in Beaver Stadium had become a great team. That may not be the case this year, since Michigan will have a young team, but I still think you'll finish ranked. You've also finished 10 wins or better a lot of times that you played Penn State in Ann Arbor, like in 1998. But it would be pretty cool if Penn State beats Michigan, AND you guys finish with 10+ wins. It'd help in bowl selections.

[Poole1Dan]

We finished with 10 wins in 1998 and 2002, but in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2007 (all years in which we played penn State at home), we had at least 3 losses and didn't win 10 games. We seem to do much better when we play Penn State on the road then at home.

But like you said, its probably jusrt coincidence

[MVillani1985]

But still, might not be cool for you, but it would be cool for Penn State if Michigan had 10 wins, and one of their losses was to Penn State.

[Poole1Dan]

Meh, I won't be too dissapointed if we lose to penn state. I expect that we will ebat them, but I wouldn't be surprised if we lost to them.

I think we WIL lose to Wisconsin, and I wouldn't be surprised f we lost to Ohio State and Penn State. Any other loss is unacceptable. We should go no worse then 10-3 in 2008

If we lose a Bowl game, it ahd better be a BSC Bowl game. I expect that we will lose in the Rose Bowl

But me and you ahve been through this a thousand times. talk to you later(;

[MVillani1985]

To be honest, I think the main reason the game was so close was that it took place in Beaver Stadium. If it was in Michigan Stadium, it'd have probably been more like 24-7. Glad that Penn State at least gave Michigan a good scare, though. I'm sure they were worried Penn State would go on a scoring spree like in 2005, since Penn State is a second-half team usually.

[Poole1Dan]

Agreed. Penn State always plays tough at Beaver Stadium.

[MVillani1985]

It's amazing how different the Nittany Lions are at home and on the road. Example, last year, the Temple game, though a blowout, was closer than it should have been, but Wisconsin was pulverized in Beaver Stadium.

[Poole1Dan]

Yeah, no kidding. Afet Penn State beat Wisconsin, I thought got sure we would go into Camp Randall and take care of business, and they beat us by 2 TD's. Penn State is indeed brutal at Happy Valley, and Michigan will barely win it, but the bottom line is, they WILL win the game. It'll probably be 17-14 Michigan

[MVillani1985]

I'm not going to rule it out, but I'm favoring Penn State right now, since the Nittany Lions should be slightly better than they were in 2006, and Michigan won't be quite as good as they were in 2006 with a powerful offense and a stingy defense. But it's always a possibility. One thing that works in your favor is that it's not a night game, since night games are when the crowd is the loudest. I'd say Penn State 70%, Michigan 30%. If you can win in Happy Valley, then I predict a Rose Bowl win.

[Poole1Dan]

Look, i won't be dissapointed if we lose to penn State next season, but I really don't think its going to happen, especially now that PSU doesn't have Sean Lee (which is the equivilant of Michigan losing Brandon Graham for the season)

[MVillani1985]

I do agree that losing Lee will increase your chances, before we lost Lee I was thinking that Penn State was going to recreate the 2005 Minnesota game with Michigan. But as you've said before, it at least won't hurt as bad as losing Williams or Clark. I won't be super shocked if Michigan pulls off the win, though. Upset, yes, but not shocked. I think Penn State breaks open a dogfight in the end of the 4th quarter to win comfortably. It'll be alot like the 2006 PSU homecoming game.

[Poole1Dan]

We'll see what happnes next October man. I think we've beaten this drum to a pulp. Whoever wins, I think it will be a great game in Happy Valley.

[MVillani1985]

Agreed, it'll be a fun game to watch for everyone. I'm planning on going to the game but if things turn out the way they usually do, I'll probably be watching it on TV at home in my "football chair", LOL.

[Poole1Dan]

Yeah, like usual, I'll be watching the game from the comforts of my TV. I've never been to a Michigan road game, although I'd like to one day.

BTW, the game starts at 3:30, so i guess that gives Michigan a slightly better chance of winning, as Beaver Stadium is the toughest place to win a road game at night. The fact that this 17-10 win here in 2006 occured during a night game just further proves how good the Wolverines were in 06.

[MVillani1985]

WOW! Did I get this all right. I know it's all retrospective, but if you remember, Michigan led 17-14 at halftime and was only down 26-17 after three, but it became a 46-17 blowout. I also got right that Michigan would upset Wisconsin, but lose big to Illinois and lose a close one to Utah (I also said Utah would go undefeated, bust the BCS, and win their BCS game). But some of those other losses I didn't see (I'd have never in my wildest dreams guessed Michigan would lose to Toledo).

[MattM45]

I was at this game. It was a great game to go to even though Penn State lost. They really couldn't stop Chad Henne or Mike Hart which was disapointing, but it was still an exciting game.

[MVillani1985]

Except for a few drives, Chad Henne and Mike Hart were pretty much stuffed. The deciding factor in the game was that Michigan registered seven sacks to Penn State's two.

[Poole1Dan]

I wouldn't say Michigan's offense was stuffed. They were able to rack up 312 yards of total offense, Hart had +100 yards rushing, and Adrian Arrington (5 catches, 83 yards, 1 TD), and Steve Breaston (5 for 79) had very nice days.

[maizerayz]

Hey man, as always thanks for posting these. I don't get a chance to watch the games live so here I am on Youtube. Also, including some commentary was also awesome!