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Paul Finebaum weighs in on Penn State upset bid vs. Michigan this weekend

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•10/12/22
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Michigan Wolverines Wide Receiver Roman Wilson (14) catches a pass for a touchdown with Penn State Nittany Lions Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) defending during the first half of the College Football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 13, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is the go-to source when it comes to all things SEC and SEC football. But on a recent appearance on This Just In, he answered a few questions outside that conference. One of which was how likely is it that the Michigan Wolverines fall at home on Saturday to the Penn State Nittany Lions in a top-ten matchup.

“I would like to see it; I don’t think we will,” said Finebaum. “Penn State is good, but I don’t think that they have quite enough. Michigan is a tough team to wrap your arms around. They play sloppy. They go on spurts, but I think they have enough to win at home.”

Not all of the Wolverines’ victories this year have been clean and buttoned up. But that speaks to the level of talent and capability this Wolverines’ team has. Led by running back Blake Corum and quarterback JJ McCarthy, Michigan’s offense has been difficult for opposing defenses to slow down. McCarthy has 1152 passing yards and completed 94 of its 120 pass attempts for a 78.3 completion percentage. To go along with that, he has thrown nine touchdowns and one interception. Corum has run the ball 118 times for 735 yards and has 11 rushing touchdowns. His 11 touchdowns have him ranked No. 2 in the nation only behind Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda.

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Michigan is favored in their matchup against Penn State. But the Wolverines should not take the Nittany Lions for granted and expect to walk away with a win so easily. If they can stay focused for all four quarters and tighten up their play, the Wolverines will end this weekend the same way they entered it, undefeated.

Finebaum makes his prediction for Michigan vs. Ohio State in The Game

You can’t mention college football’s greatest rivalries without starting with The Game. Michigan and Ohio State‘s annual meeting is one that brings national intrigue annually, and is the one game both fanbases are desperate to win above all others every season.

SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum was blunt when revealing his pick to win 2022’s rendition of The Game. Sorry, Michigan fans.

“Oh, that’s easy. It’s in Columbus and that’s all you need to ask me because Ohio State is going to win,” Finebaum said on ESPN. “They owe Michigan for last year, and that’s when we’ll get back to talking about Ohio State being the best team in the country, or not.”

Before last season, it had been a decade since the Wolverines had claimed victory in The Game. Despite eight consecutive victories by the Buckeyes between 2012 and 2019 (there was no meeting in 2020), Michigan still leads the all-time series 59 wins to 51 losses (and six ties).

2021’s 42-27 victory over Ohio State willed Michigan into its first Big 10 Championship since 2004 and a spot in its first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff. Even sweeter for Michigan, it ended Ohio State’s four-year reign as conference champions.