Penn State Preview

BG heads to Happy Valley, for a game with the #8 Penn State Nittany Lions.  PSU is a 35 point favorite.  They are 2-0 against BG and 22-2 against the MAC.  They lost to UT during a losing JoPa season and to OU in the first post-JoPa game.

This is an extremely tall order for our team.  We play P5 games to help our budget...and I think our players love to play on the big stage.  We hope to represent and stay healthy.

Look, we were a 31-point dog to Minnesota. The UT game that year was 26.  We played Michigan tough for a half last year with a #3 QB, but ultimately lost.

So, you never know.  It would be the 8th biggest upset point spread wise since 1980.

PSU started with a solid 34-12 road win @WVU.  Steele had them #3 in the Big 10, behind OSU and Oregon.  I think everyone believes they have a shot to get into the conference title game...partly because of a relatively favorable schedule. 

On offense, they have a QB and RB who are 2nd team pre-season All-Big Ten , something that represents a bigger accomplishment than ever now.  Steels has their OL #7 in the conference and their WRs #9.

On the defensive side, they look pretty inpenetrable.  Their d-line is first, linebacker is 2nd and the backfield is #3.  DE Abdul Carter is first team all-Big-10 pre-season.

Like Bowling Green, the Nittany Lions have an off week next week and then they play Kent the next week after..

Look, a thing like this has happened 7 times over the last 44 seasons.  So the chances are not zero.

Usual stuff.  We have to play our very best, take care of the football, get a bunch of turnovers.  In reality, I'd love to see us compete and stay healthy.