Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/394762
KEY MATCHUPS P E N N S T A T E V S . M I C H I G A N | B Y P H I L G R O S Z W H E N P E N N S T A T E H A S T H E B A L L O T H E R M A T C H U P S PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 101.0 YPG, 3.1 YPC MICHIGAN RUN DEFENSE 100.2 YPG, 2.9 YPC THE LOWDOWN The Nittany Lions enter Saturday's game ranked 13th in the Big Ten in rushing. Their leading rusher is Bill Belton with only 189 yards on 49 attempts (3.9 YPC). As a team, Penn State has only seven rushing touch- downs, with five coming against Massachusetts. Michigan's defense ranks fourth in the Big Ten against the rush. It is led by junior WLB Joe Bolden (48 tackles) and senior MLB Jake Ryan (46 tackles). If Penn State hopes to have any success running the ball, starting guards Brian Gaia and Brendan Mahon will have to control Bolden and Ryan at the line of scrimmage. This is the one matchup in which the Wolverines have a big advantage. EDGE Michigan PENN STATE PASSING GAME 306.8 YPG, 12.9 YPC MICHIGAN PASS DEFENSE 215.3 YPG, 12.1 YPC THE LOWDOWN Rutgers QB Gary Nova ripped Michigan's secondary for 402 yards and three TDs last week. If Penn State's offensive line affords him the necessary protection, Christian Hackenberg could have a big night. The Nit- tany Lions rank second in the Big Ten in pass offense, while Michigan is 13th in pass-efficiency defense with a rat- ing of 133.6. Opponents have totaled 10 passing TDs in the Wolverines' first six games. The key matchup here will pit LT Donovan Smith against Michigan senior DE Frank Clark. Clark leads the Wolverines with 6.5 tackles for loss, and he also has 1.5 sacks. Smith must control Clark for Hackenberg to find success. EDGE Penn State PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. MICHIGAN PASS DEFENSE MICHIGAN RUNNING GAME 180.8 YPG, 5.0 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 60.2 YPG, 2.0 YPC THE LOWDOWN Michigan's overall numbers look good, but they've been inflated by a 350-yard outburst against Ap- palachian State. Against Notre Dame, Utah, Minnesota and Rutgers, the Wolverines averaged 3.4 yards per carry. Making matters worse, they've lost their top running back, sophomore Derrick Green, for the rest of the season due to a broken collarbone. Sophomore De'Veon Smith and junior Justice Hayes will step in for Green. Penn State's rushing defense ranks second in the country. The key matchup here will pit Michigan guards Erik Magnu- son and Graham Glasgow against Penn State DTs Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson. EDGE Penn State MICHIGAN RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE MICHIGAN PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE THE LOWDOWN Penn State has the edge in kickoff returns, placing fourth in the Big Ten with an average of 22.1 yards per return. The Nittany Lions are 10th in punt returns (8.0 YPR), while Michigan is 11th (7.8). The one position at which Penn State has an edge is at place-kicker. Sam Ficken has converted 10 of 12 field goal attempts, although he has had two attempts blocked. EDGE Penn State SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWN Penn State has the big advantage here because Michigan has the worst turnover margin in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Wolverines have thrown 10 interceptions and lost five fumbles for a turnover margin of minus-2.17 per game. They'll be highly motivated after last year's quadruple-overtime loss at Beaver Stadium, but they'll have to curb their self-destructive tendencies to avenge that game. EDGE Penn State THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN Don't know what to say here. Michigan has lost four of its first six games and is 0-2 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Folks in Ann Arbor are unhappy over the team's record and also the handling of Morris's in- jury. There's a good chance that head coach Brady Hoke will be let go after the season, and athletics director Dave Brandon is under pressure as well. EDGE Penn State COACHING STAFF W H E N M I C H I G A N H A S T H E B A L L PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. MICHIGAN RUN DEFENSE O C T O B E R 8 , 2 0 1 4 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 3 MICHIGAN PASSING GAME 173.2 YPG, 11.7 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 228.6 YPG, 17.8 YPC THE LOWDOWN Senior QB Devin Gardner has completed 75 of 120 passes for 911 yards and five TDs but has also thrown seven interceptions. Gardner is expected to start Saturday with sophomore Shane Morris still recovering from a concussion he suffered against Minnesota. Junior WR Devin Funchess will present matchup problems for Penn State. Funchess stands 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and is the Wolverines' leading receiver with 29 catches for 392 yards and three TDs. Penn State has six interceptions, and opponents are completing only 52.7 percent of their passes. The key matchup here will pit Funchess against CBs Jordan Lucas and Trevor Williams. EDGE Penn State