Tonight in the Bronx, the Philadelphia Phillies will face the New York Yankees in game one of the World Series. While we predicted this match-up in April, we never really detailed any reasons why; but we’re not going to waste the second chance.

Now, by going through a comprehensive comparison of each team, Against the Spread presents the means in which the Philadelphia Phillies will defeat the New York Yankees in six games:

POSITION BY POSITION BREAKDOWNS

Starting Pitching: It’s hard not to like the Yankees here, considering they are throwing out three of the biggest named pitchers in the sport. ALCS MVP C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettite fix to comprise the rotation for the entire series, as Yankees manager Joe Girardi would like to go with those three for the next seven games. The Phillies will counter with Cliff Lee in game one,, but after that will rely on Yankee-whipping boy Pedro Martinez in game two and most likely Cole Hamels in game three. Game four would likely feature either J.A. Happ or Joe Blanton before Lee could return for a fifth game on Monday night. If there series goes seven, expect to see Sabathia three times, a formula which could be too much to handle for Philly.

Catching: The backstop has been an issue for the past three weeks in New York as Jorge Posada voiced displeasure over A.J. Burnett choosing Jose Molina over the vet. Looking at the numbers, Posada has plenty of reason to bee upset; Burnett has allowed 10 walks in just over 18 innings and has an ERA of close to 4.5. Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz has stepped out yet again in the postseason, hitting a big home run in game one of the NLCS and playing solid defense as usual. Ruiz (or “Chooch”, or “Sénor Octobre” as many are now calling him) certainly give the Phillies an advantage here.

First Base: Two of the best in the game at first base highlight this match-up in switch-hitting Mark Texiera and the Phillies left-handed slugger Ryan Howard. Howard has been a terror this October, driving in a playoff-leading 14 runs in the first eight games of the postseason and earning NLCS MVP honors in the process. Texiera’s big blow came in game two of the division series against Minnesota, a home run that won the game in extras for the Yankees. But beyond that bomb, he has hit just .205 in the postseason. Looking at the body of work this year, Howard is the clear-cut better of the two, but Texiera is capable of swinging a hot bat at anytime.

Second Base: Robinson Cano and Chase Utley both have not played up to their potential in this postseason. Utley’s two errors nearly cost the Phillies their first two game of their series against Los Angeles, while Cano was sixth in the AL in batting in the regular season but has hit just .229 in the playoffs. Slight advantage goes to the Phillies here, but if Utley hits it will be a great sign for Philly.

Third Base: Massive advantage, Yankees. Alex Rodriguez is the hottest player left right now, hitting .438 with five bombs and 12 RBI’s in the playoffs. A-Rod has shed his postseason reputation as a player who comes up small in big situations and done so in impressive fashion. While there is no doubt that the Bombers have an advantage at the hot corner, don’t sleep on Pedro Feliz; he’s due, having hit just .161 thus far in October. Phillies fans remember that is was Feliz who had the game-winning hit in the clinching game of last year’s World Series.

Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins v. Derek Jeter. Combined, these two players have played with each team for 3,544 games; or every game of both of their careers (not including postseason games). Thus far in the playoffs, Rollins is hitting .244 with 3 RBI (two coming on his game four winning hit against the Dodgers), while Jeter is batting .297 with three homers for the Yankees. Both players are the faces of their franchise, both are the leadoff hitter on their respective teams and both must have big series’ to secure a championship. Slight advantage to New York here.

Left Field: Raul Ibanez’s first year in Philadelphia has been a memorable one. He hit .272 with 34 home runs despite being hurt for almost an entire month of the season. In October, Ibanez is hitting just .226, but has nine RBI’s and one big homer, a three-run bomb in game one of the NLCS. For the Yankees, Johnny Damon has gone deep twice this postseason and has produced five RBI from his second spot in the Yankee order. If you look at these two players, they bring different attributes to each game, but we’re going to go with Damon based on past postseason experience and production.

Center Field: No Phillie will be booed louder in this series than Shane Victorino. Batting out of the two-spot in the lineup, he is a catalyst for the entire team and produces runs when on base. Only Jeter, Rodriguez and Jayson Werth have scored more runs so far this October and he is one hit shy of having the most of any postseason player. Despite the production coming from first base, Shane leads the team in batting average (.361), and plays an incredibly solid center field. For the Yankees, Melky Cabrera also plays a solid center field and is coming off a very productive series at the plate against the Angels. Victorino is the pick here, but us Phillies fans shouldn’t sleep on Cabrera, who is the x-factor in the potent Yankee lineup.

Right Field: Nick Swisher has been a bit of a letdown for the Yankees in the playoffs, hitting just .125 so far. That and he went to Ohio State, so we’re really hoping he makes an error so we can cross-feature him in Ohio State Hate Week, which begins in just four short days. Both Swisher and Jayson Werth have struck out eleven times, but Werth’s 10 RBI’s and 5 homers, which tie him for the postseason lead with A-Rod, more than make up for the lack of contact. Advantage Phillies.

Designated Hitter: Naturally, the Yankees have any advantage here, but this comparison is closer than past fall classics. Hideki Matsui will DH for the Yankees in games 1, 2, 6 and 7, and has hit a modest .233 this October. For the Phillies, it could be a different left-handed hitter every night. Either Ibanez, who would relinquish his spot in left field to Ben Francisco, or power-hitting Matt Stairs will DH for the Phillies and try to take advantage of the short porch in right field.

Bench Players: In a series full of great positional match-ups, this is not one of them. Neither team will get an advantage here, and barring extra inning games, we may not see much of either one in this series. If these guys do play a role, it will more than likely be in games three through five in Philadelphia, so, advantage Phillies.

Bullpens: The most impressive part of the postseason run by the Phillies has been the resurgence of their bullpen. Brad Lidge has not blown a save in three chances and one of Chad Durbin’s two wins came after shutting down the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup. For the Phillies, the biggest question mark has to be Ryan Madson, who needs to be sharp in order to get close games to Lidge. Madson has blown two saves so far, and was a factor in both of the Phils’ losses this postseason. For the Yankees, they only have the best postseason relief pitcher in the history of the game in Mariano Rivera. Rivera leads in postseason appearances with eight, and has pitched 10 2/3 innings while allowing just one run. Joba Chamberlain has also pitched well for the Yanks in early relief, but it could be the middle relief of Phil Hughes who gets tested most by this Phillies lineup. Advantage goes to the Yankees in this category.

Manager: Us Phillies fans are so proud of Charlie Manuel that were going to look right past the job that Joe Girardi did this season. Managing the egos in that clubhouse and dealing with the A-Rod steroids scandal in spring training are impressive feats. We will see how good he is when he is forced to make moves in the middle games of this series, but we expect to be fine. Charlie, well he’s the manager of the defending World Series champions, and has guided this team to three straight NL eastern division championships. What’s more, he just makes all the right moves at all the right times; see below.

A thinking man's thinker: Charlie Manuel

Advantage, Phillies.

AtS’s Not-So Scientific Breakdown: The 2009 World Series: All these things combined, a slight advantage has to go to the Phillies. Of course I’m biased, but that’s what I feel. The above accounts for a 2-2 series split.

INTANGIBLES: A look at things you may have not have figured into this series.

Stadium: If we were basing this on ambiance, Yankee Stadium would surely be our pick. But the fact of the matter is, the Phillies have won 11 of the last 12 postseason games at Citizens Bank Park. That should be a huge statistic, considering that this series will go back to Philly tied at one.

Fans: A primary reason why you have won 11 of the last 12 vs. OMGYOUHAVETOPAYATONOFMONEYTOSITCLOSETOTHEPLAYERS. Advantage, Phillies.

History/Mystique: Yankee Stadium vs. Veterans Stadium. The City That Never Sleeps vs. The City Where You Are Afraid To Sleep. 16 retired numbers and Monument Park vs. Five retired numbers and Ashburn Alley. 10,000+ losses vs. 26 World Championships. Yeah, about that; advantage, Yankees.

Celebrity Fans: Kate Hudson, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (even though he played for the Phillies, he sucks). Advantage, Phillies in an upset.

Mascot: Do the Yankees have one?

Broadcasting: John Sterling vs. Scott Franske. Advantage, push; without Harry Kalas no one wins.

Victory Song: New York, New York vs. That’s the Way I Like It. Not even close, Yankees.

Mascot: Phillie Phanatic vs. George Stienbrenner. Phillies, again.

Due to intangibles, Phillies and Yankees should split another two games, But somehow, some way, they get to Mariano Rivera and win a game they have no business winning (probably game three or four) to win the series 4-2, Jimmy gets to wear Harry’s shoes and the city gets to do this again.

Brett Myers Likes to Party

We hope you enjoyed our look at the 2009 Fall Classic; and one more thing…

Phillies win, thhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeee Phillies, win! (In six, of course)

For the first time in fourteen years, Penn State emerged from Michigan Stadium victorious after routing the Wolverines by the score of 35-10 on a cold and rainy day in Ann Arbor. The win moves the Lions to 7-1 on the season and 3-1 inside the Big Ten heading into the final four games of the year.

GAME RECAP

Penn State kicked the ball away to Michigan to begin the game and for the first time all year, the defense gave up a first half touchdown. The Wolverines drove 70 yards down the field and scored on a Brandon Minor one-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-0 maize and blue. Penn State would respond quickly however, and set up a theme for the day as Daryll Clark found Grahan Zug in the endzone just four plays and 68 yards later to tie the game at seven. Before the end of the first quarter, the Lions would add on a 34-yard Colin Wagner field goal to take a lead they would never relinquish.

After a Jeremy Boone punt was downed inside the Michigan 10 yard line, the defense went to work and with the help of two pre-snap penalties on the Wolverines, scored a safety when the ball was snapped through the back of the end zone on third down. After the free kick, Clark would fine Quarless down the seam and 60 yards later Penn State had broken open the game, leading 19-7. Michigan would add on their final points just before halftime, kicking a 23 yard field goal to make is a nine point game.

Out of halftime, Chaz Powell returned the ball to the Wolverine 43 (the 54 yard return was Penn State’s longest of the year thus far), and after another big Clark to Quarless connection, Daryll again found Zug in the corner of the end zone to put Penn State up 25-10 after a missed two-point conversion.

Later in the third quarter, after Michigan fumbled the ball to Penn State on their side of the field, Clark would again find Zug across the middle in the end zone for another score. The three receptions for touchdowns were a career high for Graham, and Penn State was in control 32-10.

In the fourth quarter, Penn State would control the ball for 10:06 before scoring their final three points of the day, a 29-yarder off the boot of Wagner; the losing streak at the Bighouse was finally over as Penn State dominated the Wolverines, 35-10.

VIDEO LINKS

• Big Ten Network Game Recap

PICTURE LINKS

• Pennlive.com’s Photo Gallery
• GoPSUSports.com

POST-GAME STORIES

GAME WRITE-UPS

• Lancaster Newspapers – Mike Gross
• Harrisburg Patriot-News – Bob Flounders
• The Daily Collegian – Game Recap
• GoPSUSports.com – Game Recap

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

• GoPSUSports.com

POSTGAME NOTES FROM THE SID

• GoPSUSports.com

BLOGS

• Black Shoe Diaries
• The 22,000+

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Unexpected, yes. Completely shocking, sort of. A very good sign headed into the meat of the schedule, overwhelmingly so. For the second straight week, and year against the Wolverines, the defense absorbed a punch in the mouth early and the offense worked to the third quarter knockout blows. Local boy Zug had a monster day, Clark threw for four touchdowns to break the all-time touchdowns record and Penn State sits at 7-1 heading to the last third of the season. Next week is a slight test against a game Northwestern team that could become a problem if the Lions are caught looking ahead to the showdown with Ohio State in two weeks. After that, games against a weak Indiana team and a Michigan State team who could very well pack up their tents after their tough loss Saturday stand between this year’s squad and a trip to another BCS bowl. The defense is playing incredible, and they are finally getting the help from the offense they lacked in the first parts of this season; if we could just have those last 15 minutes against the Hawkeyes back…

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Akron: L, 14-28 @ Syracuse
• Syracuse: W, 28-14 vs. Syracuse
• Temple: W, 40-24 @ Toledo
• Iowa: W, 15-13 @ Michigan State
• Illinois: L, 14-24 @ Purdue
• Eastern Illinois: W, 28-20 @ Jacksonville State
• Minnesota: L, 7-38 @ Ohio State
• Michigan: L, 10-35 vs. Penn State
• Northwestern: W, 29-78 vs. Indiana
• Ohio State: W, 38-7 vs. Minnesota
• Indiana: L, 28-29 @ Northwestern
• Michigan State: L, 13-15 vs. Iowa
• Combined opponent’s record: 6-6 for the week, 52-40 for the year (.565)

AROUND THE BIG TEN

• #18 OHIO STATE 38, MINNESOTA 7: The Buckeyes capitalized on four Golden Gopher turnovers to turn a seven-point halftime lead into a 31 point victory Saturday in Columbus. Terrelle Pryor passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns through the air and another on the ground to lead Ohio State over a Minnesota team who has looked inept over the past two weeks. The Buckeyes host New Mexico State next week before traveling to Happy Valley on November 7th.
• PURDUE 24, ILLINOIS 14: Purdue outgained, outrushed and outpassed the Illini on Saturday afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium for their second consecutive victory. Most of the Boilermaker’s damage was done on the ground, where they accounted for 220 yard and all three of their touchdowns.
• NORTHWESTERN 29, INDIANA 28: After Ray Fisher returned a kickoff 93 yards to make the score 28-3 Indiana, few people sitting in Ryan Field thought Northwestern had a chance to win the game. But 26 unanswered points later, after a 19-yard field goal, the Wildcats had erased the biggest deficit in school history to beat the Hoosiers and gain some momentum heading into next week’s game against Penn State.
• #7 IOWA 15, MICHIGAN STATE 13: The last unbeaten team left in the Big Ten escaped East Lansing with a memorable victory over the Spartans Saturday night. After giving up a touchdown late in the game to trail MSU 13-9, Iowa drove the length of the field and scored a touchdown on a slant route with no time left on the clock to save perfection and a chance at playing for a national championship. The Hawkeyes are a serious threat to go undefeated, as they have three of four games remaining at home and one on the road against an Ohio State team who has struggled at times this season.

AROUND THE NATION

• #12 OREGON 43, WASHINGTON 19: With next week’s home game against Oregon looming on the horizon, many thought that the Ducks would overlook the Huskies and get a tough game this weekend in Seattle; many were also wrong. Oregon rolled over Washington thanks in large part to five-straight touchdown scoring drives in the second and third quarters to put the game out of reach. The Ducks racked up 259 yards rushing and got two scored from both running back LaMichael James and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in the blowout win.
• CLEMSON 40, #8 MIAMI 37 (OT): Facing a third and eleven at the Miami 26 yard line, Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker found Jacoby Ford across the middle to the game winning touchdown in the only upset of the day. The win blows open the ACC for Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, and the loss drops Miami out of the BCS and AP top tens.
• #1 ALABAMA 12, TENNESSEE 10: After dominating the game for the first 57 minutes, Tennessee scored a late touchdown after the first fumble of Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram’s career and recovered an onside kick to set up a would have been a game-winning field goal from 44 yards away. But Alabama’s nose guard, 360-pound Terrence Cody came up with his second field goal block of the game to keep the Tide’s undefeated season and national championship hopes alive in a 12-10 thriller over the Volunteers. Alabama has off next week and will host the ninth-ranked LSU Tigers on November 7th.
• #10 TCU 38, #18 BYU 7: TCU used a strong defensive showing and got three touchdown passes from Andy Dalton to crush Mountain West foe BUY in Provo, Utah Saturday night. The win keeps the Horned Frogs undefeated and vaults them to sixth in the BCS ranking, ahead of Boise State, whom they are likely battling for a BCS game berth.
• #4 USC 42, OREGON STATE 36: Despite outgaining the Trojans by more than fifty yards, Oregon State fell to USC in Los Angeles by the score of 42-36 in a wile Pac-10 shootout. USC got 2 touchdowns from Allen Bradford on the ground, two from Matt Barkley through the air and one from Damian Williams on a punt return in the fourth quarter which proved to be the difference in the game.

THE NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP TEN

• 1. FLORIDA (30)
• 2. ALABAMA (23)
• 3. TEXAS (7)
• 4. USC
• 5. CINCINNATI
• 6. BOISE STATE
• 7. IOWA
• 8. TCU
• 9. LSU
• 10. OREGON
• 12. PENN STATE
• 17. OHIO STATE

THE BCS TOP TEN

• 1. FLORIDA
• 2. ALABAMA
• 3. TEXAS
• 4. IOWA
• 5. USC
• 6. TCU
• 7. BOISE STATE
• 8. CINCINNATI
• 9. LSU
• 10. OREGON
• 12. PENN STATE
• 17. OHIO STATE

AGAINST THE SPREAD’S BOWL PROJECTIONS

• BCS NAT’L CHAMP GAME: Alabama vs. Texas
• ORANGE BOWL: Cincinnati vs. Georgia Tech
• FIESTA BOWL: Oregon vs. TCU
• SUGAL BOWL: Florida vs. Penn State
• ROSE BOWL: Iowa vs. USC
• If Penn State does not get selected for a BCS berth, they would end up in the Capital One Bowl.

LOOKING AHEAD

Check back with us on Thursday as we preview Penn State’s next game, a late Saturday afternoon contest against the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston.

And remember, we are six days away from the beginning of Ohio State Hate Week 2009, which starts Sunday.

#13 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS at MICHIGAN WOLVERINES: 5-2 (1-2), tied for seventh in the Big Ten.

ALL TIME SERIES NOTES: In these two teams’ previous 14 meetings, Michigan has won 10 of them including nine of the last ten. Michigan’s one loss in that stretch was the 46-17 loss last year at Penn State, the biggest loss be either team in the history of the series.

PREVIEW: Since joining the Big Ten, no single team has been a bigger burden on Penn State than the Wolverines. After winning three of the first four meetings, including a 31-24 thriller in 1994 that vaulted them to the top ranking in the nation, Penn State has dropped every game except for last year’s contest. Furthermore, Penn State has not won in Michigan Stadium since 1996, a span stretching five games. This series has also been memorable for close games with bad officiating (from this point of view), including the 2002 three-point overtime loss/Tony Johnson foot in/out of bounds game and the 2005 two-second game, the only one the Nittany Lions would lose that year.

LAST WEEK: Michigan crushed FCS opponent Delaware State 63-3 while Penn State shutout Minnesota 20-0 in the aftermath of a freak October snowstorm that made gameday in Happy Valley a surreal experience.

GETTING TO KNOW THE WOLVERINES: After a disastrous 2008 season which saw Michigan set a school record for losses, head coach Rich Rodriguez appears to have the Wolverines turning the corner in his second year. Michigan began the season 4-0, including a thrilling victory against Notre Dame in the second week of the season. Since beating Indiana in week four, Michigan has lost two of three games. Both of those games were away from Ann Arbor, at Iowa in primetime and in East Lansing against rival Michigan State.

STATISTICAL MATCHUPS: A comparison between the Lions and the Wolverines (national rankings in parenthesis)…

• Penn State’s Passing Offense vs. Michigan’s Passing Defense
• Penn State, 245.7  ypg (37th); Michigan, 232.9 ypg (80th)
• Penn State’s Rushing Offense vs. Michigan’s Rushing Defense
• Penn State, 187.0 ypg (25th); Michigan, 130.4 ypg (58th)
• Penn State’s Scoring Offense vs. Michigan’s Scoring Defense
• Penn State, 29.6 ppg (42nd); Michigan, 21.9 ppg (46th)
• Penn State’s Passing Defense vs. Minnesota’s Passing Offense
• Penn State, 163.4 ypg (14th); Michigan, 191.6 ypg (86th)
• Penn State’s Rushing Defense vs. Michigan’s Rushing Offense
• Penn State, 75.4 ypg (6th); Michigan, 235.0 ypg (8th)
• Penn State’s Scoring Defense vs. Michigan’s Scoring Offense
• Penn State, 8.7 ppg (2nd); Michigan, 37.3 ppg (9th)
• Turnover Margin (per game)
• Penn State, -.14 (t-67th); Michigan, -.43 (88th)

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Quarterback Tate Forcier is fourth in the Big Ten in passing efficiency, but has struggled over his last five games. Two weeks ago against Iowa, Forcier suffered a concussion and played just one series in last weeks woodshedding of Delaware State. The Wolverines are a very balanced team running the ball, as they have three players with over 40 carries. The rushing attack is led by Carlos Brown (44 carries for 336 yards and 3 TD’s) and Brandon Minor (57 carries for 274 yards and 4 TD’s), but also features back-up quarterback Denard Robinson, who has carried the ball 47 times for 273 yards and five scores. The Wolverines ground attack is second to none in the Big Ten (Penn State is next closest with 48 less yards per game), and has accounted for 55% of their total yards this season. Doing the receiving for Michigan has primarily been Martavious Odoms, who has 19 receptions for 238 yards and one score.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH: Obi Ezeh leads Michigan in tackles with 55 from his linebacking position. While the Wolverines have improved from 2008 defensively, they are neither strong against the run or the pass, ranking in the middle of the pack against the run and slightly below average against the pass. In the secondary, keep an eye out for Donovan Warren, who is second in the conference in pass breakups and tied for second with three interceptions.

WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP; MICHIGAN: To take pressure off of a below average secondary, Michigan has to be good against the rush on first and second downs. Being ranked seventh in the conference against the run and eighth in the pass means Michigan will likely need turnovers to help them stay in the game, so we’re going to key on Warren when Clark is throwing the ball and defensive end Brandon Graham when the Lions choose to run. If Graham can play in the backfield for a god part of the day, Penn State’s offense might be neutralized.

On offense, the key player has to be Forcier, who was great against Notre Dame in leading the Wolverines to victory. Penn State will not hold this team down rushing, but The Lions are the best defense that Michigan has faced to date, especially against the run. Forcier must make throws and use his mobility to extend plays and find open receivers.

WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP; PENN STATE: In Penn State’s first true road test of the season, it is unquestionable that the Lions need quarterback Daryll Clark to have a good day. He should be able to find some holes in Michigan’s secondary and on those occasions, receivers need to be hit. Also, don’t forget that Clark has legs, which he can use to run; hopefully we see some of that Saturday.

Defensively for Penn State, Josh Hull, Navarro Bowman and Sean Lee (who is expected to play) all need to have good games against the Wolverines zone-read offense.

INJURY REPORT:

• Penn State: RB Stephfon Green (ankle, out), RB Brent Carter (knee, possible)

WEATHER FORECAST: Coludy with a very slight chance of rain, highs in the low 50’s

QUICK HITTERS:

• Daryll Clark can become Penn State’s second starting quarterback in school history to beat Michigan twice; the other was Wally Richardson who also beat the Wolverines as a fifth year senior, like Clark is this season.
• Penn State will be visiting Michigan Stadium for the first time since press box renovations were done over the off season. Word from Ann Arbor is that it is much louder on the playing surface now, and sound is something that Penn State has not had to deal with all season.
• Penn State has scored first, led at halftime and after the third quarter in all seven of their games so far this season. The defense has not allowed a first half touchdown this season.

POINTS OF VIEW: A look at what some of our fellow Penn State and Michigan bloggers are saying…

The 22,000+ is fired up about this week and also is looking forward to Ohio State Hate Week, which starts in (count ‘em) nine days here on Against the Spread

Maize and Brew, a pretty good Michigan blog, has a very nice look at coach Joe Paterno; for a Michigan fan.

Zombie Nation; comprehensive, as always

AROUND THE BIG TEN: At noon, the Hoosiers travel to Northwestern to face the Wildcats, Ohio State looks to rebound from last week’s disastrous loss when they host Minnesota and Purdue looks to effectively end Illinois’ season by beating them in West Lafayette. The conference winds down play with a big game in East Lansing as Michigan State hosts seventh-ranked Iowa at 7:00pm; Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has never won at Michigan State. Wisconsin is idle this week.

AROUND THE NATION: Only one game of national interest pits ranked teams against one another this week, but quite a few ranked teams should get stern tests from unranked opponents. The biggest game kicking off at noon will be played in Charlottesville as 11th-ranked Georgia Tech will take on Virginia, who is undefeated so far in the ACC despite losing their season opener to FCS William & Mary. At 3:30, 12th-ranked Oregon will visit Seattle to play Washington, who has already upset USC earlier this season on the same field. Penn State fans should watch both of these games keenly as both the Yellow Jackets and Ducks sit above the Nittany Lions in the polls. The day’s premiere game kicks at 7:30 when TCU and BYU square off in Provo, Utah. This match-up of non-BCS conference schools pits the 10th and 16th-ranked teams against one another and the loser will be eliminated from the conversation when it comes to the BCS.

PRE-SEASON PREDICTION: 27-13, Penn State.

CURRENT PREDICTION: Before we made our pre-season prediction, we didn’t think that the Wolverines would be as good as they were in the first two weeks of the season. After an impressive win over Notre Dame, everyone was on the Michigan train buzzing about freshman quarterback Tate Forcier and his ability to run the offense. Since that game, he has gone just 45/87 (51.7%) for 608 yards, 4 touchdowns, three interceptions and one concussion, and his team has gone just 3-2 and sits in the lower half of the Big Ten. So where’s the beef, what was all the hub-ub about? I’m not going to go as far as saying same-new Michigan because they are better than last year, but how much remains to be seen. My problems with national media and overexcitement will be detailed in a post further down the line, we don’t have time for it right now.

My biggest fear for this game is that Michigan and head coach Rich Rodriguez decide to let loose and play the style of ball that he employed at West Virginia by utilizing backup quarterback Denard Robinson. When in the game, Robinson has showed explosive flashes and can make plays with his feet more so than his arm (see the horrible interception late in the Iowa game). With a big game, on national TV, with every other Big Ten team watching, in the same stadium in which you have owned Penn State for years now, it seems like it’s the perfect storm for Michigan to use the Nittany Lions as an example; to set a tone for years to come. The only question is can Michigan’s offensive front be as physical as Penn State’s defense. Last year in Happy Valley the answer was a resound no. I’ve never been in any stadium that was as frenzied as Beaver Stadium was last year in the middle of that game. Penn State was in the backfield on every play and the score went from 17-7 Michigan to a Penn State blowout in what seemed to be 10 minutes. So far this year, nether unit has seen one like the other, and whichever one adjusts quickest and makes the proper adjustments will control this game. Like I said above, Michigan is better, but they’re not the whole way back just yet.

That point is what makes me lean towards Penn State in this one; I truly think that they have an advantage when it comes to coaching and overall skill and that will be the difference in this game. Penn State wins this game by the same score we predicted in August, 27-13.

We’ll be back on Monday with a review of the action, in a post that will kick off a busy week at AtS; we’re Phillies fans too.

GAME RECAP

After a day of limited parking and “no tailgating,” Penn State an Minnesota kicked off the annual homecoming game under cold, cloudy skies in Beaver Stadium.

The game overall was extremely one sided, as Penn State scored their first six points on two Colin Wagner field goals and took a 6-0 lead late into the second quarter. Just before halftime, Daryll Clak found Derek Moye in the endzone but the catch was originally ruled out of bounds. After the play went to review, the call was overturned and the Lions had a 13-0 lead heading to the locker rooms.

In the second half, Penn State tacked on another touchdown on a Daryll Clark quarterback sneak to make the score 20-0. Minnesota’s best scoring chance came late in the game on a 4th and goal at the Penn State one. On a sweep play to the left side, Jerome Hayes blew up two men, allowing A.J. Wallace to make a one-on-one tackle near the pylon to preserve Penn State’s first shoutout at Beaver Stadium since 2006.

VIDEO LINKS

• Big Ten Network Game Recap

PICTURE LINKS

• Pennlive.com’s Photo Gallery
• The Daily Collegian
• GoPSUSports.com

POST-GAME STORIES

GAME WRITE-UPS

• Lancaster Newspapers – Mike Gross
• Harrisburg Patriot-News – Bob Flounders
• The Daily Collegian – Game Recap
• GoPSUSports.com – Game Recap

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

• GoPSUSports.com

POSTGAME NOTES FROM THE SID

• GoPSUSports.com

BLOGS

• Black Shoe Diaries
• The 22,000+

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

This game was the first time all season Penn State won all three phases of the game. Offensively, Evan Royster finally had the day we had been waiting for and Derek Moye emerged to be the number one reciever. Defensively, Josh Hull had his third solid game in a row and the secondary completely eliminated the biggest offensive threat in the entire Big Ten conference. Even Colin Wagner, who didn’t have a touchback all season, got two balls to the end zone limiting Minnesota’s dangerous special teams from doing any damage. All in all, a very encouraging game that gives the Nits something to build on heading to Michigan next week.

Also, one more thing: to those students who thre snowballs at the defenseless cheerleaders, sideline officials and dance team members, don’t bother coming back to a game. Between all the PSU campuses there are 90,000 kids who would surely love to attend some football games, get there on time, and have a little class  while doing so. Fortuantely for us fans, Penn State players, administration and alumni, things never really got too out of hand which would have been another black eye for a school that has suffered irrefutable damage to their reputation over the last few years. To those students who showed some maturity and didn’t throw anything onto the field or at anyone (i.e. Seniors and Juniors), good job, but please consider start showing up to the games on time, that is also quite embarrassing on a national stage.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Akron: L, 17-21 @ Buffalo
• Syracuse: Bye week, no game
• Temple: W, 27-13 vs. Army
• Iowa: W, 20-10 @ Wisconsin
• Illinois: L, 14-27 @ Indiana
• Eastern Illinois: W, 23-15 vs. Tennessee Tech
• Minnesota: L, 0-20 @ Penn State
• Michigan: W, 63-3 vs. Delaware State
• Northwestern: L, 14-24 @ Michigan State
• Ohio State: L, 18-26 @ Purdue
• Indiana: W, 27-14 vs. Illinois
• Michigan State: W, 24-14 vs. Northwestern
• Combined opponent’s record: 6-5 for the week, 46-34 for the year (.575)

AROUND THE BIG TEN

• PURDUE 26, #7 OHIO STATE 18: Thanks to five Buckeye turnovers and less than 300 yards of total offense, the seventh-ranked Buckeyes dropped a stunner to the Boilermakers, who won their first conference game since the final game of 2008 and their first game overall since the first game of this season. Joey Elliott led the way for Purdue, going 31 of 50 for 281 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Aaron Valentine was on the receiving end of both TD passes in the third quarter, which gave Purdue a 23-7 lead at the time.
• MICHIGAN STATE 24, NORTHWESTERN 14: The Spartans scored all 24 points in the second half, including 17 in the third quarter on their way to beating Northwestern at home. This contest featured remarkable close statistics, as Michigan State outgained the Wildcats by just five yards and MUS quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for just ten more yards that Northwestern’s Mike Kafka.
• MICHIGAN 63, DELAWARE STATE 3: As the only team to travel outside of the conference this week, Michigan failed to use the services of a punter as they rolled over the Hornets of Delaware State by the score of 63-3 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines compiled 727 yards of total offense, including 461 on the ground against an undersized, physically-overmatched Delaware State defense.
• #11 IOWA 20, WISCONSIN 10: Iowa kept their slim hopes of a national championship alive with a 10-point win on the road at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday. The Hawkeyes defense suffocated Wisconsin to the tune of just 230 yards of total offense and used three interceptions to key the victory. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw for 218 yards and one score in the win.
• INDIANA 27, ILINOIS 14: Indiana bounced back after last week’s big loss at Virginia with a win against the hapless Illini in Bloomington. The Hoosiers led by as many as 20 late in a game that featured over 900 yards of total offense. The loss means that Illinois is officially the first Big Ten team eliminated from having a chance of winning the conference title in 2009; they also must win five of their last six to have a chance of going to a bowl game.

AROUND THE NATION

• #8 CINCINNATI 34, #21SOUTH FLORIDA 17: After an injury to Heisman contending quarterback Tony Pike late in the second quarter, backup QB Zach Collaros came into the game and rushed for 132 yards in the second half to lead the Bearcats to a victory over South Florida. The extents of Pike’s injury are not known as of yet, and it is unknown if Pike will play in Cincinnati’s next game.
• #3 TEXAS 16, #20 OKLAHOMA 13: For the fourth time in five years, Texas beat Oklahoma in the annual Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl. Even though Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy threw for just 127 yards, Texas used a stifling rushing defense to get by Oklahoma. The Sooners were held to -17 rushing yards for the day and also knocked Sam Bradford out of the game when he re-aggravated his shoulder injury on a sack in the first quarter.
• #6 USC 34, #25 NOTRE DAME 27: A late rally from 20 points behind fell to the turf in South Bend, and USC beat Notre Dame for the eighth straight time. The Irish had a chance to tie the game in the late seconds after mounting a ferocious comeback in the final quarter, but Duval Kamara slipped while cutting in his route and the game was over. USC QB Matt Barkley threw for 380 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the win, while Jimmy Clausen threw for 260 yards and two scores for Notre Dame.
• #1 FLORIDA 23, ARKANSAS 20: Caleb Sturgis kicked a game-winning 27-yard field goal with nine seconds left that allowed the top-ranked Gators to escape with a victory over Arkansas. Tim Tebow threw for 255 yards and a score in the victory, even though Florida fumbled the ball away four times in the game.
• #19 GEORGIA TECH 28, #4 VIRGINIA TECH 23: Facing their last stern test of the regular season, Virginia Tech lost any chance of a berth in the national championship game by falling to Georgia Tech Saturday night in Atlanta. Josh Nesbitt rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets, who won their first game at home against a top-five team since 1962.
• #2 ALABAMA 20, #22 SOUTH CAROLINA 6: Mark Ingram ran wild over the South Carolina defense, gaining 246 yards and a score in the tide’s win over the Gamecocks. With the win, Alabama jumps to number one in the AP poll, over a Florida team who struggled to beat Arkansas at home Saturday afternoon.

THE NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP TEN

• 1. ALABAMA (39)
• 2. FLORIDA (20)
• 3. TEXAS
• 4. USC
• 5. CINCINNATI
• 6. BOISE STATE
• 7. IOWA
• 8. MIAMI (FL.)
• 9. LSU
• 10. TCU
• 13. PENN STATE
• 18. OHIO STATE

THE BCS TOP TEN

• 1. FLORIDA
• 2. ALABAMA
• 3. TEXAS
• 4. BOISE STATE
• 5. CINCINNATI
• 6. IOWA
• 7. USC
• 8. TCU
• 9. LSU
• 10. MIAMI (FL.)
• 13. PENN STATE
• 19. OHIO STATE

AGAINST THE SPREAD’S BOWL PROJECTIONS

• BCS NAT’L CHAMP GAME: Alabama vs. Texas
• ORANGE BOWL: Cincinnati vs. Georgia Tech
• FIESTA BOWL: Miami (Fl.) vs. Boise State
• SUGAL BOWL: Florida vs. Penn State
• ROSE BOWL: Iowa vs. USC
• If Penn State does not get selected for a BCS berth, they would end up in the Capital One Bowl.

LOOKING AHEAD

For their second road game of the season, Penn State visits Ann Arbor to take on the Wolverines in “The Bighouse.” We will have a game preview on Thursday evening.

Also, we are just 13 days away from the beginning of Ohio State Hate Week 2009, beginning November 1st.

Oh yeah, this is either going to be a blast or a complete disaster...

Mother nature has declared a white-out for Saturday’s game between the host, 14th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, and the visiting Golden Gophers of Minnesota. Kickoff is set for 3:30pm for a game which is being dubbed “Snowbowl II.”

Thanks to an unusual storm that has given State College their earliest snowfall in recorded history, and to more snow that is forecasted for tomorrow before, during and after the game, university officials have released several PSA’s in advance of the pending weather conditions.

Penn State also tried to secure the services of inmates from the Centre County Correctional Facility, but, due to the timeframe of the storm, and short notice that the university gave the county, their services will not be used; á la November of 1995 when they were used to clear the stadium before the game against Michigan.

Earlier today, the university announced that over 20,000 parking spots in grassy areas will be off limits because of the weather situation. After 11:00 AM, all parking on gravel and pavement will be used on a first come, first served basis.

Bottom line is this: we will be there early tomorrow with our green pass and seven layers of clothing. On Monday, we will have a comprehensive report on the game and the festivities throughout the day, which include the Men’s Basketball Blue-White scrimmage at the Bryce Jordan Center, which shouldn’t be packed or anything because of the weather.

Enjoy the game and the heat of your living rooms!