The fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines (3-0) welcome Penn State (2-1) to the Big House on Saturday afternoon in the first game of conference play.

The beginning of Big Ten play usually means that the competition is about to ramp up and that the Wolverines have a tougher road ahead of them, and that may be true, but not this week. Michigan comes in as a superior team talent-wise and should have about as easy of a time as they have had in the last few weeks.

Penn State’s best shot in this game is to beat up Wilton Speight and stifle the Michigan offense. It could certainly be a physical affair, but with the Nittany Lions’ struggles defensively to start the year and Speight’s arsenal of playmakers, Michigan should be able to move the football.

Running back Saquon Barkley is also worth keeping an eye on, as he is also Penn State’s best player. Michigan has to be aware of him at all times and cannot allow him to make plays in the open field.

Michigan looks like they will be getting some reinforcements back, as well. Jourdan Lewis looks primed to play Saturday after missing the first three games of the season and it appears Taco Charlton could be ready to roll, too.

James Franklin is on the hot seat in Happy Valley and a win over the Wolverines would be a huge boost to his job status, but they do not have the horses, or the coaching staff in place to upend Michigan in their own house. After last week’s struggles against Colorado, expect Jim Harbaugh’s team to be ready to go from the kick on Saturday, and that does not bode well for Penn State.

Prediction Time

Michigan 37, Penn State 17

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Game Info

Teams: Penn State (2-1) vs. No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (3-0)

Date: September 24th, 2016

Location: Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. (107,601)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

Television: ABC/WatchESPN App

Radio: Michigan/IMG Sports Network (for a list of affiliates, click here)

Spread: Michigan -18.5, O/U 57

Fun Facts

• The game will be seen on ABC by a national crowd. Dave Flemming, Brian Griese and Todd McShay will be on the television call.
• This is the 20th time that Michigan and Penn State have met with the Wolverines holding an all-time record of 12-7, including a 28-16 win last season in Happy Valley.
• Michigan has won nine of its last 10 and 32 of its last 34 conference opening games. They are 82-25-2 all-time conference openers.
• This is Michigan’s 69th conference opener at home.
• Michigan is 2-1 against Penn State when ranked in the top 5 and 9-4 overall as a ranked team in this game.
• Nebraska and Rutgers are the only two teams in the conference that Michigan has not played in a Big Ten opener.

Week Four College Football TV/Streaming Schedule