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Michigan Wolverines vs. Penn St. Nittany Lions Week 7 Betting Predictions & Preview

Michigan vs Penn State NCAA Football Handicapping

No team has been able to make 5-0 look as bad as the 18th-ranked Michigan Wolverines have, dropping in the polls despite a perfect record. They’ll look to put forth an impressive win this weekend when they take on a Big Ten foe, the Penn State Nittany Lions.

18 Michigan Wolverines (5-0) at Penn State Nittany Lions (3-2)
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Venue: Beaver Stadium
City: University Park, Pennsylvania
O/U Odds: 50
Spread: Michigan -2.5

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The Wolverines entered the season with high hopes, and a national title shot in mind, but they might be looking too far ahead, failing to build margins against lesser opponents and coming away with ugly wins.

The team may have learned their lesson, taking it to Minnesota last week in a 42-13 win.

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Quarterback Devin Gardner has thrown for eight touchdown passes and run for six more. The team’s 16 rushing touchdowns are tied for second in the Big Ten. Gardner is coming off his first game without a turnover since becoming the team’s starting quarterback. His turnovers were a big part of the team’s troubles the previous two games, as he turned the ball over a combined seven times against Connecticut and Akron. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 235 yards, adding 17 rushing yards on seven attempts. Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint rushed for 78 yards and a pair of scores. Getting the ground game going was a major priority for the team in the game, and they came through in a big way, something they’ll look to carry over into the Penn State game.

The Wolverine defense took a big hit in their last game when they lost lineman Ondre Pipkins for the year, but they could get linebacker Jake Ryan back in time for this contest – he’s been cleared by doctors after surgery in the preseason. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Last week, the unit held the Gophers to just 281 yards of offense. They rank 13th in the nation in total defense, allowing 305.0 yards per game.

They’ve had a tough time getting off the field though, allowing opponents to convert on 41.1 percent of third down attempts – Minnesota converted on eight of 15 attempts.

The Penn State offense has racked up 475.5 yards per game over their last four games. In their last game though, the team couldn’t keep up with Indiana, falling 44-24. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg completed 30 of 55 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns.

His top target on the night was Allen Robinson, who brought in 12 balls for 173 yards and a pair of scores.

The offense’s solid performance wasn’t enough to compensate for a bad day from the defense, which surrendered 486 yards to the Hoosiers. They allowed Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld to throw for two scores, and running back Tre Roberson to run for two more.

The Wolverines may have struggled to build up a margin against lesser opponents, but they all still 5-0, and they’re being asked to do little more than win against a Nittany Lions team that is coming off a 20-point loss.

The play: Michigan -2.5

By Gino Bottero

Gino is new to CappersPicks.com but NOT new to the online gambling industry.He's got an AMAZING knack for discovering hidden gems when it comes to betting on sports. Stick with him as he predicts when a team will have a letdown! Check Gino out for NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB betting articles all season long!