The 10th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions will look to stay perfect at home in 2023 when they battle the third-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Saturday in a key Big Ten Conference East Division matchup. The Wolverines (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten), who have not lost at Penn State since 2019, have outscored their opposition 366-60 on the year. The Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten), who have won two in a row, have outscored their foes 362-107. The teams have split the last six meetings, but Michigan posted a 41-17 win in 2022. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been suspended for this matchup by the Big Ten amid the ongoing NCAA investigation of an alleged sign-stealing operation.
The game will kick off at noon ET from Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Michigan is averaging 424.2 yards per game, 42nd in the nation and best in the Big Ten, while Penn State averages 394, 60th in the country and fourth in the conference. The Wolverines are favored by 5 points in the latest Michigan vs. Penn State odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 45. Before making any Penn State vs. Michigan picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan vs. Penn State and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Penn State vs. Michigan:
- Michigan vs. Penn State spread: Michigan -5
- Michigan vs. Penn State over/under: 45 points
- Michigan vs. Penn State: Michigan -209, Penn State +172
- MICH: 3-0 ATS on the road this season
- PSU: The Nittany Lions have hit the first-half ML in 7 of last 10 games (+6.00 units)
- Michigan vs. Penn State picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Michigan vs. Penn State live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Michigan can cover
Senior wide receiver Roman Wilson continues to impress as one of the top targets for quarterback JJ McCarthy. Wilson leads the Wolverines with 36 catches for 589 yards (16.4 average) and 10 touchdowns, including a long reception of 47 yards. He is coming off a season-high nine receptions for 143 yards (15.9 average), including a long of 35 yards, in the win over Purdue last Saturday. In the season opener against East Carolina on Sept. 2, he caught six passes for 78 yards (13 average) and three touchdowns.
On defense, senior defensive back Mike Sainristil is making a big impact. He is among the team's top tacklers with 21 stops, including 10 solo, with one sack for seven yards. He also has broken up four passes and intercepted three others, returning two of those for touchdowns. In the 49-0 win at Michigan State on Oct. 21, he picked off a pass and returned it 72 yards for a score. See which team to pick here.
Why Penn State can cover
The Nittany Lions have an impressive one-two punch at running back, led by sophomore Kaytron Allen and sophomore Nicholas Singleton. Allen has carried 119 times for a team-high 573 yards (4.8 average) and four touchdowns. He was dominant in last week's win at Maryland, carrying 14 times for 91 yards (6.5 average) and a score. A week earlier, he rushed 18 times for 81 yards in a 33-24 win over Indiana.
Singleton, meanwhile, has 121 carries for 480 yards (4.0 average) and a team-high seven touchdowns. Singleton has also been a big part of the passing game with 19 receptions for 148 yards (7.8 average) and one touchdown. In a 63-7 win over Delaware on Sept. 9, he carried 12 times for 47 yards and three scores. He also had 15 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown in the win over Indiana. See which team to pick here.
How to make Penn State vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 53 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Penn State vs. Michigan, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has notched a profit of well over $2,000 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
