# College Football Week 7: Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3) vs. Michigan Wolverines (3-2) Game Preview and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/news/college-football-week-7-penn-state-nittany-lions-3-3-vs-michigan-wolverines-3-2-game-previ

> Penn State Nittany Lions and Michigan Wolverines meet at Michigan Stadium with both clubs riding losing streaks into week seven.

By Cole Saturday · Published 2026-10-16 19:34 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Two losing streaks collide at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Penn State Nittany Lions arrive at 3-3 and have dropped three straight. [Michigan Wolverines](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/michigan-wolverines) sit at 3-2 and have lost two in a row. Something has to give at kickoff, set for 3:30 PM ET on CBS.

## Game details

- When | Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET
- Where | Michigan Stadium
- TV | CBS
- Line | Michigan Wolverines -6.5 | O/U 42.5 (market view)
- Penn State Nittany Lions record | 3-3
- Michigan Wolverines record | 3-2

## The matchup

Penn State's skid has been rough across the board. The Nittany Lions fell to USC Trojans 23-31, then lost to Northwestern Wildcats 13-34 on the road, then dropped a home game to Wisconsin Badgers 20-24. Before that stretch they beat Buffalo Bulls 55-13 and Temple Owls 27-9, so there's firepower in there somewhere, it just hasn't shown up the last three weeks.

Michigan's slide has been tighter. The Wolverines lost at Minnesota Golden Gophers 14-20, then dropped a one-score home game to Iowa Hawkeyes 19-20. Before that they ran off three straight wins, including a 52-17 blowout of UTEP Miners and a 17-10 win over Oklahoma Sooners. Michigan's recent losses have come by a combined margin that's stayed close, which says the defense is still showing up even when the offense stalls.

## Key matchups

This one comes down to Penn State's offense against Michigan's defense. The Nittany Lions have put up 183 points on the season against a Michigan defense that's allowed just 79. If Penn State's offense can't find its early-season rhythm against that kind of defensive total, it's going to be a long afternoon in Ann Arbor.

On the other side, Michigan's offense has managed just 115 points this season against a Penn State defense that's given up 111. Neither offense has been overwhelming, which makes whichever unit finds consistency first the likely difference-maker.

## The pick

Michigan is favored by 6.5 with the total set at 42.5, and the market's score sits at Michigan 25, Penn State 18. Michigan's defense has kept its losses close even during the skid, and that total suggests the books don't expect either offense to break loose.

Penn State's three-game slide and the wider margins in those losses are the bigger red flag here. Michigan at home, even on a two-game slide of its own, looks like the side better equipped to grind this one out.

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Penn State Nittany Lions | Wk6 L 23-31 vs USC Trojans, Wk5 L 13-34 vs Northwestern Wildcats, Wk4 L 20-24 vs Wisconsin Badgers
- Michigan Wolverines | Wk5 L 14-20 vs Minnesota Golden Gophers, Wk4 L 19-20 vs Iowa Hawkeyes, Wk3 W 52-17 vs UTEP Miners

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/game/2463)

## In this story

- [Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/game/2463)
- [Michigan Wolverines](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/michigan-wolverines)
- [Penn State Nittany Lions](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/penn-state-nittany-lions)

*Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

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