To be frank, Penn State is expected by many to pound Illinois to day and expected by pretty much everybody to win.
Penn State (2-0) comes in as two-touchdown favorites against an Illini squad that’s 1-1 and is a last-second field goal against Toledo away from being 0-2.
Here’s what our staff thinks will happen.
Jarrod Prugar: Penn State’s running game will be too much for Illinois to handle. The Nittany Lions are well versed in playing in hostile environments, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a lot of blue and white in Champaign.
Prediction: PSU 48, Illinois 13
Brandon Walker: PSU will be looking to avenge the 9 OT disaster for two years ago. I believe they are the better team in all areas, but Illinois isn’t a bad team despite its loss to Kansas. This will be a slug fest in the first half but PSU’s talent will prevail down the stretch.
Prediction: PSU 34, Illinois 17
Kevin Quigley: Penn State should start its conference schedule with a slam dunk win.
Prediction: Penn State 45, Illinois 13
Me: Toledo’s Jacquez Stuart ran for 82 yards on 12 carries against Illinois Week 1. Kansas’ Devin Neal gained 120 yards on 10 carries last week. No disrespect to either of those guys, but they aren’t Nicholas Singleton or Kaytron Allen. Illinois’ defensive line was supposed to be a strength coming into the season, and maybe it will end up being one by November. But it’s hard to believe that they’ll make such a leap in eight days and be able to slow down superior competition.
Illinois could also sell out and force Penn State to pass with Drew Allar. We saw how that turned out for West Virginia two weeks ago. Penn State takes this one.
PSU 31, Illinois 10
