The Jive Turkey Bowl

Time: Noon 

Location: Big House 

Weather: 🌞 & 42

TV: ABC 

Line: Michigan -2

This season got canceled originally for a reason and even though both Penn State and Michigan wanted to play, they haven't shown that on the field this season.  Both teams have lost their best players to injuries or opting out.  They both even had a unexpected retirement due to a medical condition outside of football.  

To say this season is a disaster for Penn State and Michigan is an understatement.  Penn State has zero wins and Michigan has 2.  The good news for both is someone has to win this game and the bank keeps cashing those checks into Harbaugh's and Franklin's account. 

Why PSU?

I don't know, I've watched a few of their games and they look pretty good sometimes and pretty awful others.   I thought they had a decent game against Ohio State and played IU to the bell, but have looked pretty bad since then.  

They can't stop the run but haven't seen Michigan's offensive line yet.  They have to win at some point right?

Why Michigan?

In what Wolverines fans call a  back handed compliment, the Wolverines beat Rutgers in 3 OT's last weekend.  Lets be fair,  Rutgers is better and Michigan is a lot worse.   Done Brown continues his awful defensive scheme in Ann Arbor and should be looking for a house on the East Coast.  

Michigan did get a spark at QB when Cade McNamara came in, but we have also seen Joe look good week one and have a history with a guy named John O'Korn who came off the bench and looked like Tom Brady for a half and then never played well after that.  

Michigan's defense has a ton of walk-on's on it because of a ton of injuries.  At least those guys want to be on the field and playing hard. 

Wake up from your Thanksgiving comma and pick something already?

Here is another ancient analogy for you,  Creedence Clearwater Revival has a song called "Who'll Stop The Rain".   Which should be the theme of this game, except you replace rain with run.   Neither team wants to pass the ball because its been a disaster all year.   Both teams have gone through multiple QB's that have seen multiple losses.    When that happens coaches like Harbaugh and Franklin go back to what they know and that is running the ball. 

Former Detroit Lions President Matt Millen said on air last week, this is the worst run stopping defense he has ever seen in State College.  Matt played there in in the late 70's and was drafted in 80.   If Michigan can run the ball like they did against The Golden Gophers, they can win this game by a couple touchdowns, the issue is, they haven't been able to do that since then.  

Both teams will load the box and see who can get the most yards.  Michigan will try to pass more because that is built into Coach Gattis's DNA.  He would also would like a win over the staff he used to be on.  I don't know how much Penn State wants to be in Ann Arbor on Saturday, this is always a lazy week with Thanksgiving and an early start.  They close against Rutgers and MSU, which should be winnable for them.  

I like big games from Haskins out of the backfield and Evans in the slot.  If Cade can protect the ball, move the sticks, and score a few TD's, Michigan can win this game.  If they turn the ball over and Nordin is missing kicks we could see a replay of last week.

Michigan 31 PSU 20