Category: Penn State

20 For 2020 College Football Topics, No. 20: Best Programs To Not Make The College Football Playoff

20 for 2020 College Football Topics, No. 20: The five winningest programs who haven’t made the College Football Playoff.

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20 for 2020 College Football Topics, No. 20: The five winningest programs who haven’t made the College Football Playoff.

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Check LSU off the box – and in a big way.

It’s really, really hard to get into the College Football Playoff, much less do anything in the mini-tournament. Only 11 teams have been able to get there in six seasons, and only four schools – LSU, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State – have been able to win it.

Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington are the one-timers along with the regulars – Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio State – and that’s part of the problem.

In six years, only 8% of the teams playing college football have been able to play for the national championship. That’s no fun.

It’s time for more teams to get into this thing – expansion is overdue – and it’s time for some new blood to crank up the energy that LSU brought last season.

Which five programs have done the most over the last six years without getting in?  Which programs have won the most games and had the most success in the College Football Playoff era without getting in?

Let’s begin with a glaringly painful reality …

NEXT: The Group of Five superstars

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Penn State vs. Illinois Basketball Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs. Illinois college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs. Illinois college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs. Illinois Broadcast

Date: Tuesday, February 18
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Bryce Joran Center, University Park, PA
Network: FS1

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (20-5) vs. Illinois (16-9) Game Preview

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Why Illinois Will Win

You are what you’re record is, but this is a better team than the four-game losing streak might indicate.

Okay, losing to Rutgers by 15 is hard to explain, but the team is a terror on the boards, it’s strong at coming up with second-chance points, and the defense is usually strong enough to keep teams from going on big runs.

It’s an aggressive team, but it doesn’t get hit with a ton of fouls. On the flip side, no one in the Big Ten commits more fouls per game than Penn State. However …

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Why Penn State Will Win

Illinois doesn’t do much of anything to take the ball away, and Penn State leads the Big Ten in steals. For a team that needs to come up with a whole lot of easy points – especially considering the struggles lately – that’s not going to happen against the hot Nittany Lions.

Penn State can rebound, too, and it’s killing teams from the outside. Illinois has no three-point shooting game and it’ll get stopped way too often in the half-court set.

What’s Going To Happen

Illinois is way overdue for a terrific performance, but that’s not happening against Penn State right now. The Nittany Lions have lost only one home game in Big Ten play, it won’t screw up enough to give up transition points, and it’ll keep the Illini from finding a consistent offensive groove.

Penn State vs. Illinois Prediction, Line

Penn State 78, Illinois 69
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Penn State -6.5, o/u: 138
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
– Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: Daytona 500 on Monday
1: Daytona 500 on Sunday

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Penn State vs. Northwestern Basketball Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs. Northwestern college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs. Northwestern college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs. Northwestern Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 15
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
Network: BTN

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (19-5) vs. Northwestern (6-17) Game Preview

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Why Northwestern Will Win

So what’s going right in this nosedive of a season? The Wildcats have lost 13 of its last 14 games, but they’re still battling.

They have the energy to keep attacking – even if they’re not effective enough defensively – they don’t give the ball up for easy points, and they do just enough to keep teams from rocking from three.

Penn State might be playing well, but they’re also hitting well from the field with a knack for going on good runs. Northwestern is able to slow things down a bit when it needs to, and it’s not all the bad defending the three.

– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why Penn State Will Win

Northwestern is awful.

It can’t score, it doesn’t do anything on the boards, and it doesn’t force the mistakes needed to generate easy points. Worst of all, they don’t score.

They don’t do enough from the outside, they don’t come up with second chance points, and the defense doesn’t force enough turnovers to come up with generate O.

Penn State is the opposite when it comes to forcing mistakes. It leads the Big Ten in steals and is second in blocked shots.

Northwestern isn’t going to have an easy time finding points.

What’s Going To Happen

Penn State isn’t going to start struggling now. Northwestern might bring the want-to, but it won’t come up with enough steady points to overcome an early Nittany Lion burst.

Penn State vs. Northwestern Prediction, Line

Penn State 77, Northwestern 65
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COMING, o/u: COMING
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING
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Must See Rating: 2

5: Heart-shaped pizza, pancakes, cookies …
1: Valentine’s Day

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Penn State vs Purdue Basketball Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs Purdue college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs Purdue college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs Purdue Broadcast

Date: Sunday, February 9
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
Network: BTN

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (18-5) vs. Purdue (14-10) Game Preview

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Why Penn State Will Win

On a six-game winning streak, Penn State pulled up out of the nosedive with a rock-solid offense that keeps coming up with answers to every challenge, including at Michigan State.

The offense has showed off the firepower starting with a defense that comes up with a whole lot of steals and a whole lot of takeaways. Purdue’s offense doesn’t have the pop to keep up, it’s not good enough on the O line, and it can’t hold up on the defensive boards.

Expect Penn State to get several second chance points.

Why Purdue Will Win

During the three-game losing streak a few weeks ago, what was the problem? The Nittany Lions weren’t hitting from three, and now they have to deal with a Purdue defense that’s great from the perimeter.

What are the Boilermakers doing right over the three-game winning streak? They’re hitting the offensive boards hard, and they’re shooting far better, going 12-0 on the year when they hit 42%. Penn State’s defense is terrific, but   Michigan State and Minnesota blew past the 42% mark in the last two games.

What’s Going To Happen

At home, Purdue will make it a fight and keep it close, but it’s having problems against the good teams on the slate lately. It’ll keep up the pace for a while, but the Penn State defense will force just enough mistakes to survive.

Penn State vs Purdue Prediction, Line

Penn State 72, Purdue 66
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Penn State -5, o/u: 124.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
– Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: McMillions
1: Sonic the Hedgehog

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Penn State vs. Minnesota Basketball Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs. Minnesota college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs. Minnesota college basketball fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs. Minnesota Broadcast

Date: Saturday, February 8
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
Network: BTN

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (17-5) vs. Minnesota (12-10) Game Preview

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Why Minnesota Will Win

The Gophers got the Nittany Lions in mid-January in an ugly blowout.

This is a painfully inconsistent Minnesota team that has its moments when it can power past anyone in the Big Ten. And how? When the team is active on the boards, look out.

It came up with a whopping 48 boards against the Nittany Lions and cranked up the D in the win, and it might be able to do that all over again.

Penn State isn’t great from three, Minnesota is excellent at forcing mistakes and stepping up the defense for stretches, and when the offensive rebounds come, uh oh.

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Why Penn State Will Win

Penn State isn’t going to get destroyed by 16 rebounds again.

This isn an active team that turned everything around after the loss to the Gophers, winning five straight by forcing a whole lot of mistakes, taking a lot of threes, and being versatile.

The D has allowed 70 points or fewer in each of the last four games, and they’re hitting the shots to pull away in games. Best of all, three of the wins in the last four games were on the road. The Nittany Lions have lost only once at home since Thanksgiving.

What’s Going To Happen

Which Minnesota will show up? There won’t be enough of a Gopher offense to overcome the swarming defense on the road.

A long power outage in the second half will keep Minnesota from being able to keep up as Penn State generates enough points in transition to pull away.

Penn State vs. Minnesota Prediction, Line

Penn State 72, Minnesota 62
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Penn State -6, o/u: 138
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4
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Must See Rating: 3

5: Watching movies
1: Watching the Oscars

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Big Ten Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 14

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the Big Ten season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the Big Ten season.

Results So Far: SU 82-15, ATS 48-44-1, o/u: 56-34-2

Click on each game for game preview & prediction  

Friday, November 29

Iowa at Nebraska

2:30 BTN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Iowa -5.5, o/u: 65
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Saturday, November 30

Ohio State at Michigan

12:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Ohio State -9.5, o/u: 51
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Northwestern at Illinois

12:00 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Illinois -9.5, o/u: 44
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Indiana at Purdue

12:00 ESPN2 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Indiana -7, o/u: 55
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Rutgers at Penn State

3:30 BTN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Penn State -40, o/u: 49
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Wisconsin at Minnesota

3:30 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Wisconsin -2.5, o/u: 47.5
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Maryland at Michigan State

3:30 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Michigan State -21.5, o/u: 49
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– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Penn State vs. Rutgers Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs. Rutgers fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs. Rutgers fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs. Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 30
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Network: BTN

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (9-2) vs. Rutgers (2-9) Game Preview

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Why Rutgers Will Win

It’s not like the Penn State offense has a ton of scoring pop.

The running game hasn’t hit the 200-yard mark since the opener against Idaho, the passing attack hasn’t connected on 60% of its throws in the last six games, and overall, this O isn’t the type to come out of the tunnel and get up 24-0.

Rutgers isn’t able to move the chains, and it isn’t doing a whole lot of anything right, but at least it does it slow and keeps the clock moving. More than anything else, the team has to hope that Penn State is down after its loss to Ohio State, and this is the game to try airing it out on a secondary that’s being picked apart lately.

Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan hit 90% of his passes, Indiana’s Peyton Ramsey hit 76% of his throws for 371 yards, and Justin Fields – despite being a bit banged up – hit 16-of-22 passes with two scores and several big plays.

However …

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Why Penn State Will Win

Rutgers just doesn’t have any offense.

It scored 21 points on the Buckeyes – but most of that was when the game was well out of reach and OSU was moved on to the Penn State game – but this O isn’t doing much of anything right.

It’s not moving the chains, coming up with third down throws, and worst of all, the offensive line gives up a ton of plays behind the line.

Rutgers, meet Yetur Gross-Matos, Micah Parsons, and a defensive front that’s destined to come up with at least ten tackles for loss.

Just assume that Rutgers will next well under 100 rushing yards – more like under 50 – and the passing game that’s failed to hit 90 yards in four of its last six games isn’t about to go off now.

What’s Going To Happen

Penn State still has to care and still has to try.

The Rose Bowl might be out of the equation, but sitting a 12 in the CFP rankings, there’s an outside shot a 10-2 Nittany Lion team can move up into the top ten and be in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl game.

The Nittany Lions have won 12 in a row going back to 1988, and has won 27 of the last 28 in the series going back to the 26-3 Rutgers win … in 1918.

Penn State will call off the dogs in the fourth quarter after a totally dominant defensive performance.

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Penn State vs. Rutgers Prediction, Line

Penn State 45, Rutgers 7
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Penn State -40, o/u: 49
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
– Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 1.5

5: The fried chicken sandwich of your choice (and side)
1: All things Thanksgiving dinner

Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season

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Big Ten Quick Thoughts, Takes On Every Game: Week 13. Ohio State Wins Big Ten East

Quick thoughts and takes on every Week 13 Big Ten game. @PeteFiutak Michigan State 27, Rutgers 0 It was only a win over Rutgers, but Michigan State really, really, really, really needed that. It wasn’t perfect, the running game was stuffed a bit too …

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Quick thoughts and takes on every Week 13 Big Ten game.

@PeteFiutak

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 0

It was only a win over Rutgers, but Michigan State really, really, really, really needed that. It wasn’t perfect, the running game was stuffed a bit too much and the offense stalled a bit, but Cody White went off for 11 catches for 136 yards and three scores, and it was a shutout over a team that was supposed to be shutout. The program can exhale for a moment – it hit the putt.

 

Rutgers just doesn’t have the offensive talent. Johnny Langan completed 8-of-20 passes for 57 yards with a pick, led the team with 49 rushing yards, and Isaiah Pacheco was held to 36 yards. It didn’t help that the Scarlet Knights were playing a team that cared.

The Spartans owned this game by more than the final score. They didn’t allow a third down conversion and held the ball for almost 38 minutes. There wasn’t any drama whatsoever.

Michigan State did what it needed to do, and now it closes out with Maryland for a shot at a sixth win and bowl eligibility. Rutgers’ season will come to a brutal but merciful end at Penn State.

Iowa 19, Illinois 10

Iowa played a typical Iowa game. It battled hard, played good run defense, and did enough to keep things moving through the air. It wasn’t easy, and it was a grind to do anything on the ground, but it was the eighth win of the season with just Nebraska to go. A shot at a ten-win campaign is still there.

The Hawkeyes couldn’t get any push up front – the Illinois D line did a nice job. Iowa ended up with just 79 rushing yards, and Nate Stanley wasn’t all that sharp, but he connected on a few bit pass plays with Ihmir Smith-Marsette catching four passes for 121 yards.

Illinois played relatively well despite only scoring ten points. The running backs didn’t get the ball enough – QB Brandon Peters led the team with 76 rushing yards – but the O averaged close to five yards per carry. The passing game didn’t cluck – Peters threw two picks – but it was an okay performance despite the final score.

It was a good fight, and now Illinois gets to go for a seventh win when it finishes up against Northwestern. If a 19-10 loss on the road to Iowa was okay, a loss of any sort to this Wildcat team would be totally unacceptable.

NEXT: Ohio State 28, Penn State 17

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Big Ten Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 13

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the Big Ten season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the Big Ten season.

Results So Far: SU 75-15, ATS 42-43-1, o/u: 52-31-2

Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Penn State at Ohio State

12:00 FOX | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Ohio State -18.5, o/u: 57.5
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Minnesota at Northwestern

12:00 ABC | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Minnesota -13.5, o/u: 39.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

[lawrence-related id=501162]

Illinois at Iowa

12:00 BTN | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Iowa -15.5, o/u: 46.5
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Michigan State at Rutgers

12:00 FS1 | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Michigan State -20.5, o/u: 43.5
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Michigan at Indiana

3:30 ESPN | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Michigan -9, o/u: 52.5
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[lawrence-related id=500899]

Nebraska at Maryland

3:30 BTN | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Nebraska -4, o/u: 62
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Purdue at Wisconsin

4:00 FOX | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Wisconsin -24.5, o/u: 48
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– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Penn State vs. Ohio State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs. Ohio State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Penn State vs. Ohio State fearless prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs. Ohio State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Network: FOX

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Penn State (9-1) vs. Ohio State (10-0) Game Preview

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Why Penn State Will Win

With some due respect to Wisconsin, Penn State is getting off the bus with the most impressive, athletic, and toughest defensive front that Ohio State has faced all year.

There are issues with the Nittany Lion D – getting to that in a moment – but but no one has been able to run for more than 3.5 yards per carry on this bunch, no one has hit the 200-yard mark, and only three teams have been able to push past 100 yards.

It can get pounded on a bit – Michigan was able to get physical in the second half – but the next-level talent in several spots makes up for it by getting behind the line and not allowing any sort of a big play on the ground.

The Ohio State offensive line has been fantastic, but it had problems keeping Wisconsin out of the backfield, giving up five sacks. Start with Penn State being even better at getting to the quarterback, and go from there.

Fields is going to have to be even quicker with his decision-making ability this week, and he’s not going to be able to take off and run at will.

Offensively, Penn State has the quick strike ability to at least answer the Ohio State home runs.

The O doesn’t have the ability to keep up if this gets into a wild shootout if the Buckeyes go off, but KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson are each averaging over 17 yards per catch, the tight ends are dangerous, and the offense has found something over the last two weeks in RB Journey Brown, who followed up a 124-yard day against Minnesota with 100 yards against Indiana.

However …

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Why Ohio State Will Win

It’s a stretch to suggest that Penn State has been exposed over the last few weeks, but for all the good things this team has done, and for as good as it is, it’s got a few major flaws that aren’t going to play well in Columbus.

First of all, it’s not consistent enough in the passing game.

Penn State quarterbacks haven’t needed to be deadly accurate lately to succeed – Trace McSorley only connected on 53% of his throws last year – but it’s occasionally a problem. Sean Clifford has been fine, and he’s hitting on a few big plays, but he only completed 48% of his passes against Indiana a week after throwing three picks in the loss to Minnesota.

He’s had a few moments – he was fantastic in the win over Maryland back in September – and he hit Michigan State for four scores, but against this NFL Ohio State secondary, not being razor-sharp is a problem against the No. 1 D in America.

The No. 1 D in America that gets back a fresh, rested and surly Chase Young.

The other big problem? The Penn State secondary is having a few issues.

It’s been able to bend-but-not break in several games – Pitt and Iowa were able to throw, and Michigan’s Shea Patterson got rolling in the second half – and then Tanner Morgan went off. The Minnesota quarterback hit 18-of-20 passes for 339 yards and three scores, hitting the Nittany Lions for big play after big play.

Indiana’s Peyton Ramsey followed that up with a 371-yard day in last week’s loss.

Ohio State? It’s averaging over 13-yard per completion with the fourth-most efficient passing game in America. And …

[lawrence-related id=500899]

What’s Going To Happen

Justin Fields can run.

Yes, Penn State’s defensive front is the real deal, and it’s going to generate pressure, but it hasn’t faced a mobile quarterback yet who can blast away with the big dashes like Fields can.

It’s the final home game of the year, it’s the week before Michigan, and it’s the return of the best defensive player in college football to a defense that doesn’t need him.

Penn State is really, really good. It’s about to have a rough day.

Want a 2nd opinion on who to bet in the Penn State vs. Ohio State game? Click here to get WinnersAndWhiners.com’s predictions on the side, total, first half, and exotic bets! All Free!

Penn State vs. Ohio State Prediction, Line

Ohio State 37, Penn State 17
Bet on PSU vs. OSU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Ohio State -18.5, o/u: 57.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
– Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 5

5: Citizen K
1: Frozen II

Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season

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