Vegas odds revealed for Michigan football vs. Penn State

Michigan football is 6-0 and faces its stiffest challenge of the season to this point in a potential matchup of top 10 teams when Penn State comes into town this weekend. This is the first Big Ten East pecking-order matchup of the season and will help determine the balance of power in the conference.

As of Sunday morning, Vegas oddsmakers have Michigan set as a 6.5-point favorite over the incoming Nittany Lions. The over/under for total points scored is set at 51.5.

Michigan leads the all-time series with Penn State by a 15-10 margin. The Wolverines have a win in the most recent matchup, winning 21-17 in Happy Valley last season. Michigan has a 4-3 record over Penn State since head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2015. The Wolverines are 5-3 since James Franklin took over at PSU in 2014.

Michigan’s game with Penn State kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon with the broadcast set for FOX’s Big Noon Saturday coverage. It will be the 4th-consecutive game that the Wolverines play in the noon slot on the FOX broadcast. Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft will once again be on the television call.

Michigan football vs. Penn State betting trends

– The Wolveirnes are 3-3 against the spread this season, Penn State is 3-2

– Michigan is 14-6 against the spread in its last 20 games

– The points total has gone under in 6 of U-M’s last 7 games

– The Wolverines are 8-4 against the spread in their last 12 games at home

– Michigan is 6-2 against the spread in its last 8 games against Penn State, 4-2 at home

– The total has gone under in 5 of the last 6 games against Penn State at home

– Penn State is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 road games

– The under has hit in 8 of PSU’s last 12 games and 13 of its last 19 road contests

U-M vs. Penn State recent history

2021: U-M 21, Penn State 17 (Happy Valley)

2020: Penn State 27, U-M 17 (Ann Arbor)

2019: Penn State 28, U-M 21 (Happy Valley)

2018: U-M 42, Penn State 7 (Ann Arbor)

2017: Penn State 42, U-M 13 (Happy Valley)

2016: U-M 49, Penn State 10 (Ann Arbor)

2015: U-M 28, Penn State 16 (Happy Valley)

2014: U-M 18, Penn State 13 (Ann Arbor)

What they’re saying about Michigan’s win over Indiana

Nichole Auerbach’s Top 10: UCLA keeps rising, Alabama drops down without Bryce Young

It’s risky to make sweeping conclusions about Michigan’s inability to pull away from Indiana given the scary situation that briefly overshadowed the game in the first quarter when Wolverines running backs coach and legend Mike Hart collapsed on the sideline and had to be carted off the field. Running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards were among the players who could be seen on the broadcast getting emotional, and the Michigan rushing attack was uncharacteristically ineffective in the first half.

The Wolverines appeared to regroup at halftime — Hart was announced to be in stable condition but would stay overnight in Bloomington for continued observation — and came out strong after the break. The defense shut out Indiana the rest of the way, and J.J. McCarthy threw three second-half touchdowns. But I’m not going to make generalizations on a team that dealt with an emotionally challenging off-field situation in-game. We’ll learn a lot more about Michigan next week when the Wolverines host Penn State.

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Michigan ranks 4th in CFP power rankings

4. Michigan (6-0) 

Up next: vs. No. 10 Penn State

The Wolverines made it to the halfway point with an unbeaten record, and J.J. McCarthy (28 of 36, 304 yards, 3 TDs, INT) led a 31-10 victory at Indiana. The Hoosiers sold out to stop Blake Corum (25-124, TD), and McCarthy responded in the second half after throwing his first interception. The defense also turned up the pass rush in the second half. Seven different players had a sack. The Wolverines are not racking up style points, but the showdown with No. 10 Penn State will be a tell-all as far as who challenges Ohio State in the Big Ten East race. 

Chip Patterson, CBS Sports: Michigan drops a spot in projected Top 25 for this week

5. Michigan (4): After mashing its nonconference opponents, Michigan has found itself tested much more in conference play, and that was case again at Indiana. Tied 10-10 at halftime, the upset alert sirens were on, but the Wolverines took control in the second half and pulled away for a 31-10 win.