1. Can James Franklin fix his recent Post-Bye Week woes? His last 3 games after bye weeks have featured losses to Illinois, Minnesota & MSU. To be fair, before that, after bye weeks he had beaten Michigan & Ohio State. This is the 1st game of a real tough 3-Game stretch for PSU and there is a lot of pressure to get it started on right note.

2. Penn State's offense has been plagued by consistency issues since Week 1. Remember the Purdue game, PSU was either scoring a TD or going 3-and-out. As a result, PSU O grades out slight above/below average across range of offensive scoring and success rate metrics. This Michigan D is set to be the best one PSU has faced all season.

3. While PSU's run game is improved, it still has a homerun-or-bust feel to it - the efficiency numbers back this up. PSU, leaning on their strengths, may employ and over emphasize a short/intermediate passing game that IU had success with vs UM last week and unjustifiably abandoned. Washington, Tinsley & TEs should have to room to work with.

4. UMs offense has been improving and grades out well across the board EXCEPT for obvious Pass Down performance. Unfortunately, PSU has been really solid and creating havoc or stuff plays and getting teams into those situations. Staying ahead of the chains will be the difference in the game for the Wolverines.

5. It will fascinating to see how Michigan schemes to get their WRs the ball. PSU's DBs lead the country in pass break ups and have talent everywhere in the secondary. Would expect the usual suspects, Bell and Schoonmaker, to have lots of chances in the middle of the field.

6. PSU plays a very aggressive style of D. They will sell out in an attempt to get you in the backfield, playing super fast, trying to force you into mental mistakes at the expense of giving up some plays as a result of over pursuit, missed gap integrity etc. (they are one of worst tackling teams in country). They trust their secondary to limit big plays and play good coverage. A heavy dose of misdirection is in order for UM, must prioritize getting the ball into skill positions hands outside the hash marks and ultimately, JJ is going to need to take a couple shots deep to keep their Safeties from creeping up.