Tag: staff predictions

Packers Wire staff predictions: NFC Wild Card Round vs. Cowboys

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the wildcard round showdown with the Cowboys will go down:

The Green Bay Packers (9-8) will go on the road to play the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) in the NFC Wild Card Round on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The Packers and Cowboys are both in the playoffs for an NFL-high 36th time, and Sunday’s showdown between Green Bay and Dallas will mark the ninth all-time in the postseason, tying the NFL record for playoff meetings between two teams.

Can the Packers upset the Cowboys as touchdown underdogs on Sunday and earn a trip to San Francisco to play the top-seeded 49ers?

Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the wildcard round showdown with the Cowboys will go down:

Nittany Lions Wire staff predictions for the College Football Playoff national championship game

See who the staff of Nittany Lions Wire are picking in Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship between Michigan and Washington.

The Big Ten has to love the matchup taking place in Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game. Big Ten champion Michigan is going head-to-head with one of the conference’s incoming members later this year, the Washington Huskies. Both teams are the last undefeated teams remaining this season and both won their respective conference championships. After getting past the SEC champion Alabama and Big 12 champion Texas in the semifinal rounds, Michigan and Washington are set for a terrific matchup in search of each school’s first national championship since the 1990s.

Our staff at Nittany Lions Wire will obviously be keeping an eye on the national championship game knowing that Penn State is looking to climb to this level of play. Penn State will also be facing Washington in the regular season next fall with a home game against the Huskies on the schedule. Penn State will not be facing Michigan in the regular season.

Here are our staff predictions for the national championship game.

Charlie: Two teams with completely contrasting styles. Washington loves to hit the explosive pass downfield while Michigan loves to run the ball down its oppositions throat. Which team comes out on top? The team that can stop or more likely slow down the other teams strength. If Washington can somehow hamper Michigan’s run game they’ll have a great chance at taking home the title. Michigan will need to limit Michael Penix Jr and his downfield prowess. An explosive play or two from JJ McCarthy and the Wolverines offense would go a long way in deciding the outcome. In the end, Penix and the Huskies one more play than the Wolverines and take home the title. Washington 28, Michigan 24

Kevin: There is no question that Michigan has the upper hand with its defense, but there is something about the way Washington moves the football that makes me think the Wolverines are about to face their toughest challenge of the year. Michael Penix Jr. is the real deal at quarterback and I would take him leading my offense over JJ McCarthy in a setting like this. But I have to admit, the Wolverines wear teams down and let the running game take over down the stretch. I don’t see why that won’t happen again here. I think the Wolverines take it in a game that goes deep into the fourth quarter and the Michigan running game and defense make the plays when it counts the most down the stretch. I’m rooting for Washington, but picking the Wolverines. Michigan 30, Washington 27

Brad: This game is what college football is all about. The clash in styles between the two teams who want to either throw all over their opponent or smash right through theirs. I’m going to take the more physical team in Michigan to control the line of scrimmage and ultimately win their first College Football Playoff. Michigan 31, Washington 27

Staff predictions: Penn State an easy pick vs. Michigan State?

Our staff goes on the record one final time this Penn State football season.

For the final time this regular season, the staff here at Nittany Lions Wire is going on the record with our game predictions. And with Penn State being a heavy favorite against Michigan State on Friday night in Detroit, it is no hesitation in which way our staff is leaning on this one.

Here are our staff picks for this week’s Penn State game against Michigan State.

Brad Wakai, Contributor

Penn State looks to close out the season strong against Michigan State in Detroit. They accomplish that goal and cruise to an easy 31-10 victory

Final score: Penn State 31, Michigan State 10

Kevin McGuire, Editor

We didn’t see the flash on offense that was desired last week following a change at offensive coordinator, and the injury to Drew Allar didn’t help matters much. But maybe this week will be different? Michigan State has struggled mightily this season and should be overpowered by Penn State’s offense. But I suppose I’ll believe it when I see it. Penn State will win and the game will hardly be in much doubt in the second half, but prepare for more of a slow burn to put this game on ice.

Final score: Penn State 27, Michigan State 16

Charlie Strella, Contributor

Penn State’s defense steps up once again and forces multiple turnovers by the Michigan State offense. Whether Drew Allar plays or not remains to be seen but either way Beau Pribula should see the field after his performance last week. The Nittany Lions need this game to secure a NY6 bowl and the offense, despite its limitations, won’t turn the ball over enough to give the Spartans a chance. Penn State takes care of business at Ford Field in Detroit.

Final score: Penn State 34, Michigan State 10

Staff predictions: Will Penn State bounce back against Rutgers?

Our staff agrees; Penn State’s going to win this weekend against Rutgers.

Penn State will play its final home game of the college football season this Saturday, and they will do so with a new direction for the offense. After firing Mike Yurcich as offensive coordinator last weekend following a loss to Michigan, Penn State will turn the offense over to Ja’Juan Seider and Ty Howle. Will two heads be better than one? As long as one of them can figure out how to create some explosive plays, change will be well received.

Penn State will look to get its offense going against an improved Rutgers program that has already locked up bowl eligibility for this season. Penn State dominated Rutgers on the road last season, but the Scarlet Knights have played much more confidently this season. Rutgers may not be a serious threat to Penn State, but they are fully capable of making Penn State work for the win this weekend.

Here are our staff picks for this week’s Penn State game against Rutgers.

Brad Wakai, Contributor

After a devastating loss and with a new play caller, all eyes will be on how the offense bounces back.. again. Penn State should have no trouble winning this game for the seniors and roll 35-7.

Final score: Penn State 35, Rutgers 7

Kevin McGuire, Editor

Not only am I expecting Penn State to have a nice rebound this week, I think the offense wastes no time trying to break out in style. The first thing I expect Penn State to try and do is find short passing opportunities to get the ball moving in space, and I think we finally get our first 100-yard rushing game of the year from either Nick Singleton or Kaytron Allen. The fact there is still a lot to play for as far as playing in a New Years Six bowl game is a nice motivating factor for a team that is basically going back to the drawing board with its offense this week.

But Rutgers will not go away easily. These Scarlet Knights are not going to be intimidated and they won’t cave easily. But Penn State does have the talent advantage and playing at home is a nice perk. Rutgers puts up a fight early, but Penn State pulls away in the second half.

Final score: Penn State 32, Rutgers 13

Charlie Strella, Contributor

I though Penn State could show it’s offense has grown and pull off the upset against Michigan, but I was wrong. Although the game was close, Penn State passing game was absent. This week Rutgers is coming into State College at the wrong time and the Nittany Lions are going to want to wash last week down the drain. The point spread is a lofty one, Penn State being favored by 20.5-points, but I think they come out swinging with a new voice calling the plays and cover the spread. The running game breaks through and the Scarlett Knights have trouble penetrating the Penn State defense.

Final score: Penn State 41, Rutgers 17

Bucs Wire staff picks for Week 10 against the Titans

Here’s how we predicted Tampa Bay’s Sunday matchup against the Tennessee Titans will go:

From here on out, every game is a “must-win” game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That may sound silly, but the Bucs are 3-5 and in the midst of a four game slide, and a team that once had playoff aspirations and a division lead is now sinking when it’s supposed to swim. The Tennessee Titans, too, are 3-5, but they bring a new rookie quarterback to fold in Will Levis. If the Bucs win this game, they move to 4-5 and maintain a thread of hope in a dreadful NFC South — lose, and they’ll be 3-6 with the next game on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

Here’s how we see a potentially massive game on Tampa Bay’s slate going on Sunday:

Staff predictions: Will Penn State spring the upset of Michigan?

The staff at Nittany Lions Wire goes on the record for Penn State’s big game against Michigan.

Penn State is set for its biggest game of the season this weekend. The two-time defending Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines are coming to town for a pivotal game in the Big Ten East Division race that also carries College Football Playoff implications. Penn State must win this game in order to remain in the hunt for either, while Michigan will make the trip to State College as a favorite with a little more potential breathing room to spare.

Penn State has lost the last two meetings in this series, including a blowout loss in Ann Arbor last season. But can this Penn State defense keep this game from getting out of hand like last year’s game and give this offense a chance to make something special happen?

Our staff gathers once again to share our official predictions for this weekend’s big showdown in Beaver Stadium.

Brad Wakai, Contributor

Penn State’s season hinges on this game. If they win they have a chance to make the Big Ten championship game as wild as that sounds. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions just come up short at home losing 27-24 in another heartbreaker.

Final score: Michigan 27, Penn State 24

Season record: 8-1

Season record ATS: 8-1

Kevin McGuire, Editor

From the start of this season I firmly believed Penn State had a real shot to knock off Michigan at home. I still believe that to be true, but it is not going to be easy at all. Michigan has yet to be tested the way they will on Saturday, but the Wolverines have done everything I would have expected them to do this season up until this point.

So how does Penn State pull this off? For starters, the offense absolutely cannot play as ineffectively as it did a few weeks ago at Ohio State. Michigan’s defense is better than Ohio State’s, and that concerns me significantly. I’m not sold that last week’s scoring outburst at Marland has a carryover effect this week against a significantly better team.

This is a defensive battle between two of the Big Ten’s best. I don’t think Michigan has a receiver of the level of Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., but they do have a superior quarterback in JJ McCarthy. Penn State must knock him off his game, and this is far easier said than done.

I have Michigan in a low-scoring victory.

Final score: Michigan 20, Penn State 16

Season record: 9-0

Season record ATS: 3-6

Charlie Strella, Contributor

Michigan finally gets to show who they truly are against a top-10 Penn State squad, hoping to keep their College Football Playoff and Big Ten title game hope alive. This game is tough to predict, considering Michigan’s lack of competition so far, and the Nittany Lions defense, especially against the run, is far and away a different animal for the Wolverines to handle.

I think Penn State’s run defense presents a real challenge for Michigan, and they prevent Blake Corum from torching them like he did last year. Beaver Stadium should be rocking, and Penn State is motivated to show they can take down a top team after coming up short against Ohio State. I’ve flipped-flopped my choice all week, and either team has a realistic shot to win. With two stifling defenses, the game will come down to which offense can do that little bit extra. In a super tight game, I am going with the Nittany Lions at home to do just enough to eke out a win.

Final score: Penn State 23, Michigan 21

Season record: 1-0

Season record ATS: 1-0

Staff predictions: Will Penn State conquer Maryland?

The staff of Nittany Lions Wire shares their Week 10 predictions for Penn State vs. Maryland.

Penn State takes to the road for the final time this season in a true Big Ten road environment. The Nittany Lions close out the regular season away from Happy Valley against Michigan State in Detroit on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but this week sees Penn State in an opposing Big Ten stadium for the final time this season. Penn State visits border rival Maryland with both teams looking to clean some things up a bit.

While Penn State has some questions to still address on offense, the Terrapins are simply looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Doing so against this Penn State defense could make that a difficult task.

This week we are happy to introduce our newest member of the team, Charlie Strella. And with his addition to the team, we have one more person going on the record each week for the remainder of the football season.

Here are our staff picks for this week’s Penn State game at Maryland.

Brad Wakai, Contributor

Penn State survived a scare last weekend against Indiana. That doesn’t give a lot of confidence heading into Maryland who has a potent offense and wants to beat the Nittany Lions badly. I think last Saturday was a wake-up call and they come in focused.

Final score: Penn State 30, Maryland 21

Season record: 7-1

Season record ATS: 7-1

Kevin McGuire, Editor

From the start of the season, I have said this week’s game at Maryland was going to be one of the trickier games on the schedule, and I believed it was one where Penn State would easily be on upset alert. After watching this season’s developments, I feel extremely confident in saying Penn State’s defense won’t be the ones who lose this game, but the Penn State offense simply has to perform better to avoid letting Maryland sniff an upset bid. Maryland trying to snap a three-game losing streak with  passing game more potent than Indiana’s could make for some tense moments. But Penn State breathes a sigh of relief at the end of this one as the run game gains momentum.

Final score: Penn State 33, Maryland 23

Season record: 8-0

Season record ATS: 2-6

Charlie Strella, Contributor

At home against Indiana a week ago, Drew Allar and the Penn State offense couldn’t gain any separation until Allar hit KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 57-yard touchdown with under two minutes to play. The Terps represent the Nittany Lions’ final true road game of the season, and the defense will likely be looking to bounce back after a rough outing. Taulia Tagovailoa leads a more dynamic Maryland offense than Indiana, so expecting a large-margin win for the Nittany Lions might be a stretch. I do not see a realistic scenario where James Franklin and company lose this game, especially with a defense that wants to prove a point.

Final score: Penn State 32, Maryland 20

Season record: N/A

Season record ATS: N/A

Bucs Wire staff picks for Week 8 against the Bills

Here’s how we see Thursday’s game on prime time play out for the Bucs:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a chance for a get-right game just four days after losing to the Atlanta Falcons 16-13, but the Buffalo Bills are a tough team to get right against.

Both teams have three losses and are coming off a division loss, so there’s motivation on both sides to get it done on Thursday night in prime time. But can the Bucs keep up with a high-powered Bills offense, and can Buffalo prove it can be a consistent football team with a statement win at home?

Bucs Wire staff thought about all these questions, and we gave our picks for the Week 8 showdown below:

Staff predictions: Can Penn State leave Ohio State with a win?

The staff of Nittany Lions Wire shares their Week 8 predictions for Penn State vs. Ohio State.

You have waited all season for this game, and so have we. Penn State and Ohio State have each taken care of their business to get to this weekend’s Big Ten East showdown in Columbus with identical 6-0 records. The stakes are incredibly high this weekend when Penn State visits Ohio State, and it seems there is a pretty positive feeling about Penn State’s chances if you scan the media predictions.

But how does our staff view this weekend’s outcome? For the first time all year, we have our first split decision on Penn State’s final result this weekend. Here is a look at our quick thoughts and official score prediction for this week’s game between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes.

Brad Wakai, Contributor

This is what Penn State has been building for. Beating the Buckeyes in this game to make a national statement. That happens this year as the offensive line holds up, the offense looks explosive and the defense shuts down Ohio State. The Nittany Lions win in Columbus 27-24

Final score: Penn State 27, Penn State 24

Season record: 6-0

Season record ATS: 5-1

Kevin McGuire, Editor

I genuinely feel as though this may be the best Penn State defense to make a trip to Columbus in Penn State’s Big Ten era. But I think Ohio State’s defense is pretty decent too. That makes this game a bit of a rock fight with the defenses controlling the tempo and outcome. Yet I still think each team hits the 20-point mark. But the difference in this game will be Marvin Harrison Jr., who will come up with a big clutch catch to help put Ohio State in position for a game-winning field goal.

Final score: Ohio State 23, Penn State 20

Season record: 6-0

Season record ATS: 2-4

Bucs Wire staff picks for Week 6 against the Lions

Here is how our staff sees Tampa Bay’s game against the Detroit Lions shaping out:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-1 after the bye week, but they’re set to face one of the best teams in the NFC on Sunday.

The Bucs will play the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium, and while the Lions have been futile in recent years, this 2023 squad could be one of their best in a very long time. The Lions are 4-1 and are looking to extend that streak against a staunch Bucs defense that remains one of the league’s best and an electric passing offense behind quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Bucs Wire staff put together our picks for the Week 6 game, and you can check them out below: