ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Penn State's back and Michigan's bad.

While that may not be the reality, that's certainly the perception heading into Saturday's matchup of the two storied programs at 3:30 p.m. at Michigan Stadium.

The eighth-ranked Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) are off to their best start since 1999 and are alone atop the conference, proving 78-year-old coach Joe Paterno isn't washed up.

The unranked Wolverines (3-3, 1-2) haven't started this poorly in 15 years and another loss would mark their worst record in mid-October since 1967, adding more heat on coach Lloyd Carr.

Not too long ago, the roles were reversed.

"It's just like a couple years back, everybody was saying we were back and Penn State was down," Michigan defensive end Pierre Woods said.

The Wolverines are two-time defending Big Ten champions while Penn State is coming off two straight losing seasons and four in five.

Michigan tight end Tim Massaquoi said when fans and the media criticize Carr, they're not thinking about what he has done for the program.

"All college coaches go through, 'What have you done for me lately?'" Massaquoi said.

In Massaquoi's five years in Ann Arbor, the native of Allentown, Pa., has seen the Wolverines go 40-16 while the Nittany Lions have been 27-26 during the same stretch.

"I get a lot of calls from Penn State fans and people in State College. They call me and say 'You should've come here,'" Massaquoi said. "But look at my career. I've got a couple of Big Ten championships. I don't have any regrets."

Massaquoi does, however, want followers of college football's winningest program to expect excellence.

"That's how it should be in a program with a tradition like ours," he said. "People should expect us to win - we should expect to win."

Oddsmakers are projecting the Wolverines as winners, making them a 3-point favorites over the Nittany Lions.

"Rightfully so," Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson said. "We haven't done so well the last couple years. We understand that."

While Penn State was down the past two years, it didn't play Michigan after losing six straight from 1997-2002.

If the Nittany Lions end the losing streak, they would have three straight victories over ranked teams for the first time since 1995.

"We're pretty confident in ourselves right now, but I think with a big win like that against an established program like Michigan will be a big thing for us," star linebacker Paul Posluszny said.

The Nittany Lions are winning again because of traditional, stingy defense and a new-look offense featuring Robinson, running back Tony Hunt, freshmen receivers Derrick Williams and Justin King. Penn State hasn't had a turnover since the first half of the Northwestern game, a span of 10 quarters.

Carr said he is not surprised Paterno is having success again.

"I think he has always maintained a confidence that they were going to have a good team," Carr said. "I could remember last year, hearing him a few times on the teleconference, and he told everybody, they built it around the great defense. They have had a two-quarterback situation there for a couple of years, but I think now they have (Robinson) and they're doing some things to take advantage of his ability.

"So they're back, that's for sure."

Paterno has tried to make sure his players are not overconfident against the Wolverines, who have struggled because of missed chances on both sides of the ball and several injuries to key players.

"They are going to play one heck of a football game," Paterno said. "There is a pride involved in Michigan football. There is a tradition involved in it. Those kids are not going to just say, 'OK, we lost a couple of games, let's hang it up.' No, we are in for a real, tough football game."