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Posted on Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : noon

Pete Bigelow and Mike Rothstein preview Saturday's Michigan-Penn State game

By Rich Rezler

In this week's video preview, AnnArbor.com sports reporters Pete Bigelow and Mike Rothstein debate the significance of Michigan's game Saturday night at Penn State and disagree when predicting the winner, too.

Comments

Mick52

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 4:10 p.m.

I think this game could hinge on who makes the fewer mistakes.

mizejoe

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 5:49 a.m.

my name is joe and it has been 28 days since my team has won a football game. Win Michigan Win!!! Go Blue!!!

azwolverine

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 11:34 p.m.

Signature win? Maybe in that it FINALLY gets UM back to a Northwestern/Purdue level bowl game, but I agree with Aaron on the significance of the game. This will be an unimpressive win (did anyone see Illinois @ PSU two weeks ago?) but would be devastating if they lose. PSU was having a down year to begin with...the fact they are down to their third string QB won't help matters. No, this won't be a signature win...beating OSU would be a signature win.

Sean T.

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 9:42 p.m.

I agree that we should out-score PSU but something tells me that Joe Paterno rallys his guys and makes this a tough game. 28-31 PSU by a field goal. I hope I'm wrong, but playing against a Denard-run offense isn't complicated. Bring on Tate!

Sevans68

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 6:41 p.m.

I agree that this is a must win game for Michigan. But the defense hasn't shown they can stop anyone and I think Penn State starts to look good against our soft defense. If they get confidence it could be a problem. Having said that, I still think Michigan can out score PSU, I'm going with Michigan 35 PSU 31. It would be a good win but then Rich Rod needs to build on it.

3 And Out

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 6:38 p.m.

in reference to the debate whether this is a "critical game" in the Rich Rod Error, well....it is, but they all are at this point... his teams simply have not shown that they can compete in the Big Ten. The 4-15 record in the BT under RR is absolutely PATHETIC and no amount of excuses or irrationally pointing the finger of blame in Lloyd Carr's direction for it (hello mgoblog idiot) make any sense at all..... 0-3 vs Sparty and soon to be 0-3 vs. The Vest loom bigger than this one game for RR.... but he should get this win.... in that sense this is a game that Michigan SHOULD win...and if they somehow do not...wellllll IMO, Denard will run all over PSU and be the difference in this game... just like he does vs. undermatched defenses from out of conference. PSU this season is NOT a standard Big Ten defense and it will show on Saturday night....

3 And Out

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.

Despite being on the road in a normally tough-to-play-in environment... Michigan should win this game....perhaps easily. PSU is struggling in almost all aspects of the game, is injured and starting a walk-on QB who has a very shakey throwing motion... it doesnt look good for PSU in this game and will be one of the few games left this year that Michigan actually has a good chance....no SHOULD win 3AndOut say: Michigan 35 PSU 20

michboy40

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 5:36 p.m.

This is a must win. PSU is down to their third string QB, the D is as bad as ours. They have not put anything together yet, so if Michigan has anything in the tank, they should win this game. I think it could be ugly, Michigan 35 PSU 17. I would call this game much closer if not for the QB situation at PSU. Interesting that PSU is flopping between starting Newsome (our decommit) V. the thirs string guy.

TrueBlueinOH

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 4:30 p.m.

Mick, I think you have the two mixed up but you make a similar point that I was going to make. I think Mike is more realistic about what is expected from Michigan in this game. If this RR-led team cannot beat a "down" PSU team this year who can they beat the rest of the way? Is there enough progress being made to keep RR on for another year? If they lose this game I give my resounding NO!

Kubrick66

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.

I expect a big win on Saturday. Sincerely yours, Alex

Aaron

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.

I'm not writing off Penn St, just saying its a game Michigan should win. Penn St is not a good team this year. If Michigan is good, they should at minimum beat them, hopefully convincingly.

Lorain Steelmen

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.

Don't be too hasty to write off Penn State. They could still knock off MSU in their season ender.

Aaron

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.

Penn St is a poor team this year. The two times they played against to 25 teams they got run off the field (24-3 in both games). Arguably their most impressive win is a score of 22-13 over Temple.

Aaron

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 11:52 a.m.

This would not be a very impressive win on the Michigan's resume this year, but it would be a devastating loss.

Mick52

Fri, Oct 29, 2010 : 11:36 a.m.

I have to agree with Pete in re to Mich beating PSU for RR's job security. It will show progress and be a defining moment. Mike is correct about MSU being important too, for the same reason, and it was not a defining moment. DRob has to have a big game to show that the offense is only great against poor teams. Michigan has to have a winning season, or at least a.500, but.500 will bring on the tar and feather gang. I like RR and I think he deserves the term stated in his contract. But it all boils down to defense, because defense wins ballgames.