ESPN’s College GameDay crew tackled the major Week 11 matchup between Michigan and Penn State in Beaver Stadium. Playing without head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines head into the matchup dealing with a lot of outside noise while the Nittany Lions need a statement to stay alive in the B1G East.

While Michigan is the program dealing with the distraction of a sign-stealing investigation and the absence of its head coach, ESPN’s crew of analysts still expects the Wolverines to step up in a crucial game. Here’s what each analyst and guest picker Nolan Smith had to say about the game:

Desmond Howard: Michigan. “I just think that Michigan’s offensive explosiveness is going to take over late in the game.”

Pat McAfee: Michigan. “We’re gonna learn a lot about both teams but I think Michigan against anybody today is a Wolverine day.”

Nolan Smith: Michigan. “I’m just gonna go off-ballot here. I don’t really like Michigan… but I’m still going to go with Michigan.”

Lee Corso: Michigan. “Michigan has won 34 of the last 37 games… I don’t care who’s the coach, Michigan.”

Kirk Herbstreit: Michigan. “The team is incredibly bonded, it’s a mature veteran team. They’re going to use the outside noise as motivation to them in a close competitive game.”