<p>This game determines what type of season we are going to have. Are we the team that struggled and lost against Appalachian State and then was blown out by Oregon or are we the team that beat Notre Dame? </p>
<p>Michigan has beaten Penn State 8 straight times. Of those, 4 were 20+ point blowouts. Can we make it 9? </p>
<p>The key to the game as far as I see it is Michigan's OL and Hart vs PSU's front 7 on defense. PSU leads the Big 10 in rish defense and Hart leads the nation in rushing yards. If Michigan can run on PSU, Michigan wins this one. If PSU can stop the Michigan rush, we lose. I think it is as simple as that. Of course, other intangibles come into play. Will our passing game be effective? Will our defense play well again or will they collapse as they did in the first two games of the season?</p>
<p>Either way, this game is going to be very interesting.</p>
<p>I think we can win this game, although I am a little worried since we have an inexperienced freshmen QB. Like you said if Hart can run the ball successfully we can definitely pull this one out. I think lot of it will also depend on Mallet’s play, he needs to be able to take a little pressure off of Mike Hart in order to attack that front 7 effectively. I think defense wise, we will be better than most people suspect because Penn State doesn’t run a spread offense. This is why I keep saying I think UM still has a chance to win the BIG 10 cause this defense is completely different infront of a regular pro-type offense than it is infront of a spread offense. As much as I want Carr gone, I still think the guy is a class act and wish that UM can win the rest of their games and win a Rose Bowl so Carr can go out on a high note.</p>
<p>i havent read either of these posts…but from what i hear Michigan and PSU have the most insanely dedicated fans…this game is going to be absolute mayhem.</p>
<p>As a guilty member, I’m sorry to say that our Michigan fans aren’t as dedicated. You always hear commentators say how the Big House isn’t an intimidating place to play at all and I recall someone referring to us as the “Cheese and Wine” crowd or as Roy Keane would say the “Prawn Sandwich Brigade.”</p>
<p>No, the Michigan crowd isn’t comparable to most crowds in the country who have good football teams. </p>
<p>Penn State hasn’t played anyone this year, it’s hard to tell how good they’ll be. Michigan has at least played Oregon, and well, we knew how that went.</p>
<p>“anyway the question is, do you think hart can run against penn?”</p>
<p>The’s the $64,000 question. If he can, Michigan wins, if he cannot, Michigan loses. Obviously, Hart on his own cannot run against a good defense such as PSU. He will need help from the OL, good blocking from other skilled positions such as FB, TE and WR and most of all, a balanced bag of tricks from the OC, keeping PSU’s Defense off balance. For that to happen, whomever is behind Center is going to have to pass the ball effectively. Justin King, PSU’s star CB, will likely shaddow Manningham nicely, but that means Arrington and Mathews will be left open.</p>
<p>Bottom line, if Hart can run, we win. If he can’t, we lose.</p>
<p>michigan stadium isn’t loud because it isnt tiered like other stadiums like tiger stadium in lsu, or kyle field at texas a&m, so the sound escapes right out with nothing to trap it. however, the average person at a michigan game is much less interested in the details of the game than the two aforementioned schools or any other school with a rockin’ stadium</p>
<p>Our D should be able to shut down your running game. PSU wins if they don’t turn the ball over. Low scoring close game decided by field goals and field position. PSU offense untested and slow to start but builds steam. PSU fans have become rabid the last few years and this year seems to be the most intense of all. Largest living alumni group in the nation…</p>
<p>Yeah, I didn’t think Hart could last 45 rushes!!! The guy may be small, but he is TOUGH! We had better rest him for the next couple of games. I still want him to rush 20 times for over 150 yards in each of those two games so that he can keep his Heisman hopes alive, but we will need a very healthy Hart later in the season, particularly when we play MSU, Wisconsin and OSU.</p>