Joining us this week is Ace Anbender, contributor to The Wolverine Magazine and editor of The Wolverine Blog, home to some of the most level-headed analysis of Wolverine sports you will find out there. Go check them out for our answers to his questions.

1. Wow, what a difference. It’s hard to believe Rich Rod was able to turn that 2007 train-wreck version of the Wolverines into a Big Ten contender in just a year, but what would you credit for the sudden turnaround?

I think there are two big factors for the big turnaround: coaching and having a quarterback that fits Rodriguez’s system. Rich Rodriguez has done an amazing job of finding and developing talent that can fit in his system and utilizing that talent to its full potential on the field. He’s a tremendous in-game coach, and always seems to be one step ahead of the defense when they try to counter his newest wrinkle in the zone read (which seems to evolve by the week).

As good a coach as Rodriguez is, he still needs a guy who can run his system – we all saw what happened when Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan were tasked with running the spread last year. Tate Forcier has surpassed even the most optimistic of Michigan fans’ expectation this year. Yes, he makes some freshman mistakes, but his ability to make plays with his arm and his legs is what makes this offense go. This team goes as Tate Forcier goes, and so far this year that has worked out pretty well.

2. Penn State’s defensive line is as good as Iowa if not better, in pressuring the quarterback. How would you expect Michigan to counter the heavy pressure from Penn State’s front four?

I expect Michigan to come out running the ball, hoping to put that front four on its heels a little bit to set up the pass game. The zone read is where Michigan’s bread is buttered, and they’ll try to establish that early in the game.

When they do pass, I think Michigan will show a couple different screen plays to try to catch Penn State getting too aggressive in their pursuit of Forcier. Carlos Brown took a little slip screen to the house against Indiana (I know, it’s Indiana, but still), and the Wolverines have shown a variety of screens using the slot receiver, including a bubble screen (more of a third option on the zone read) and a jailbreak screen (much more of a blitz counter). If Michigan can get a couple nice plays from screen passes, hopefully they’ll be able to mitigate the Penn State pass rush.

3. Just this past week, Michigan starting DE claims that they had last year’s game in the bag and could have very well won. Is that the sentiment of most Michigan fans who felt Michigan gave one up last year much like we do in the 2007 game?

I was at that game last year, and I can say without a doubt that any Michigan fan who sat through all 60 minutes of that game knows exactly who the better team was that day (and year, for that matter). The Wolverines were able to establish the run with Brandon Minor early, but once Penn State keyed on him, we had no answer to their defense – Threet couldn’t carry an offense on his own, and it showed. Brandon Graham, the starting DE in question, has been known for slightly preposterous pregame statements, and this certainly falls under that category.

4. Penn State hasn’t tasted victory in Ann Arbor since the 90s. Shouldn’t most Michigan fans be writing this one off as a win already?

I wish. Last season showed just how much those streaks matter once the teams hit the field – they’re nice for trash talk and newspaper articles, and not much else. The fact of the matter is Penn State is favored in this game and should be favored in this game, and Michigan fans know it. Last year really did a number on the Michigan fan arrogance (at least to the reasonable fans). I think I speak for a lot of fans when I say I hope we win, and I think we have a decent shot, but if I had a gun to my head and had to pick a winner I’d go with Penn State.

5. Who on both sides of this Wolverines team should Penn State fans be weary of headed into the game?

I’ll start with the obvious ones. On offense, Forcier is obviously the key guy, and Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown provide a very solid running back duo when healthy, which they finally are for this week. On defense, Brandon Graham is one of the best defensive ends in the country, and no matter who is blocking him, he’ll get pressure on the quarterback and be a factor in the run game. Junior corner Donovan Warren has really come into his own this year after playing injured in 2008 – he was a five-star coming out of high school and he’s playing like one now, and with the struggles of the rest of the secondary, there’s really no reason any quarterback should throw his way.

As for under-the-radar type guys, tight end Kevin Koger may have the best hands on the team, and seems to come up with one or two huge catches each game. He knows how to find a seam in the defense, and will catch pretty much anything thrown in his zip code. On defense, Mike Martin could play a big role in this game – he’s a slightly undersized but very quick defensive tackle who was a state wrestling and powerlifting champ in high school. If the interior of Penn State’s line struggles, Martin might live in the Nittany Lion backfield on Saturday. He’s a disrupter, and could be the key to Michigan’s success on defense this weekend.

6. What do you think will be the final score? And who will eventually win the Big Ten?

I wish I could say I think Michigan will win this one, but ultimately that Penn State defense may prove too much to overcome, especially when Michigan’s defense is as shaky as it is. I’ll go 31-21 Penn State, with the Nittany Lions pulling away late.

As for the Big Ten itself, I think Iowa is in the best position to win the conference despite have to take on Michigan State and Ohio State on the road. They have a game in hand, plus the tiebreaker over Penn State, and I really don’t see Michigan State or Ohio State winning out to take the conference. I don’t think Iowa is a BCS title-caliber squad, but their schedule sets up nicely for them to win out or only drop one game. I see Penn State winning out but coming up just short of an outright conference crown.

Thanks again to Ace for joining us this week. And as a reminder, go check out The Wolverine Blog for our answers to some of his questions. Fight on State!

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1. Behind Enemy Lines: Wolverines Part 2
2. Behind Enemy Lines: The Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Know Your Enemy: Syracuse Orange
4. Penn State routs Michigan in the Big House
5. Know Your Enemy: Iowa Edition

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