Penn State is a match-up nightmare for Michigan but Wolverines QB Shea Patterson is the wildcard

For Penn State fans this part of the schedule is all about the Big Three – Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

We all know James Franklin is 3-12 against these three heavyweights in the Big Ten East.

Michigan is the first test in 2019 when it comes to the Big Three and I would argue it’s the most important one of the three.

Penn State matches up extremely well against Michigan, the Wolverines come into the game banged up a bit and it’s a night game whiteout at Beaver Stadium and that’s worth at least a touchdown.

This is a game the Nittany Lions should not lose. I know Michigan State is struggling this year but there’s something about playing Sparty that brings out the worst in Penn State. That game is still a toss-up to me.

And Ohio State is a very, very, very good football team. From my view Michigan is the most winnable game of the Big Three.

The last three games have all been blowouts with the home team holding serve. These coaching staffs do not like each other and will rub it in a little if opportunity presents itself.

So you have that in play as well.

Michigan still has to run the ball and its No. 1 running back left the game with Illinois last week with an injury. Nobody has run the ball on the Nittany Lions this year and the PSU defensive tackles are starting to flash more. That’s a huge match-up advantage for the home team.

The Wolverines have a Top 10 pass defense in the country but they star DB Lavert Hill didn’t play last week and is questionable for this week. Illinois threw the ball with stunning success to score 25 unanswered points last week to give Michigan a scare in the second half. Yet another advantage for the home team.

Keep an eye on Michigan QB Shea Patterson. He’s a more than capable runner and the quarterback running the ball gives defenses fits. Look what the running of Sean Clifford did to Iowa last week. It was a game changer.

Patterson is playing some of his best football right now in a Michigan uniform and under the guidance of former PSU assistant Josh Gattis is a more confident quarterback than ever at Michigan right now.

Unless Patterson has a great game running and passing to a group of wide receivers who are name wideouts with talent who have underperformed this season, you could be looking at blowout No. 4 in this series.