Sizing Up the Importance of Saturday

By Sean · Wednesday, September 19, 2007 · 12:00 AM |  Share | 2 Comments 

It really seems like I am saying this every week now, but Saturday’s game is the most important of the season. That description really is getting overused, but it is true. Every week has a new game that is the most important of the season for different reasons, but you can’t escape the fact that it will have huge ramifications – win or lose.

The Penn State game really is the biggest of the big games this year in my mind. It is the Big Ten opener and starts Michigan’s actual season this year. Each season there are two main goals for Michigan football. The most important one is winning a national championship, but after losing to Appalachian State, that goal was thrown out the window as the Wolverines wouldn’t even have a chance to accomplish it. After being the nation’s best, the second most important goal is winning a Big Ten title. Luckily for Michigan, App. State and Oregon aren’t in the Big Ten, so those losses don’t hurt U-M’s chances to win a conference title. All the Maize and Blue has to do is win from here on out.

Penn State will be a true test of this Michigan team. A 38-0 win over Notre Dame is great and all, but face it, that was one of, if not the worst Notre Dame team Michigan will ever play. They’ll be lucky to win 5 games with the way things are going, so don’t get too pumped up over beating the Irish; they stink, plain and simple. Penn State on the other hand is a good football team. If Michigan can pull off the upset, then this team would be on the right track. I’m not saying there won’t be any more slip ups the rest of the season, but at least for now U-M would be in contention for a Big Ten title.

The way I see it, this game will set the mindset for the rest of the season. A win and Michigan can start to get excited. It’ll mean the Wolverines have a decent shot at winning the Big Ten since PSU is considered one of the best in the conference. I won’t start making predictions that U-M will run the table, but at least we won’t be burying our heads in shame for the third time of the season.

That leads me to the next scenario, which we hopefully won’t see after Saturday’s game. Let’s just look at the glass half-empty and consider Michigan loses. With a 1-3 record and little hope for the rest of the year, what would be the next action taken. Really, we would just have to hope Michigan survives the year, makes a bowl game, and then go on from there. Obviously, there could still be the surprise of rattling off 8 in a row after a loss to Penn State, but let’s look at the reality of things folks, that won’t happen.

What this all boils down to is this question: Can Michigan beat Penn State? The answer to that is most definitely. PSU doesn’t run a spread offense, which means the defense can at least survive the entire game unlike against Oregon. Although the Nittany Lions do have a great defense, if Mike Hart can work his magic then Michigan should be in position to win. Rather than put the outcome of this game on Ryan Mallett, Michigan has to hand the ball off to Hart and let him carry the team on his back yet again. If his stat line looks like this: 40 carries for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns, chances are the Wolverines win the game. Basically, if Penn State stops Mike Hart they’re in good shape. I’m not saying Ryan Mallett couldn’t come out and play a perfect game, but forcing Michigan to pass gives you a better chance to win.

I’m not going to reveal my prediction for this match-up until I post my Big Ten picks on Friday, but at least I believe Michigan can win this game. That’s a start. Now the team just has to take care of business and get the victory. Will the phrase “WE OWN PENN STATE” still be in effect after Saturday? I sure hope so. Until then, Go Blue!