For the first time in two weeks, Penn State plays football Saturday, and it’s time for predictions.
The time? Night.
The opponent? Wisconsin.
The setting? Camp Randall Stadium.
If Penn State wins, it will be hard to imagine the squad not making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
If it loses and then drops next week’s showdown with Ohio State at Beaver Stadium, things will get awfully interesting.
It’s predictions time, and here’s what our staff sees Penn State doing against Wisconsin?
MIKE ASTI, WV SPORTS NOW/YARDBARKER:
Wisconsin is a good team, but it’s fair to argue they are void of a quality win and have taken advantage of experiencing the easier part of their schedule, especially in Big Ten play, during the first half of the season. They also endured an 17-point loss against a team Penn State beat. Even though the Badgers have only allowed 16 total points in their last three games, they have faced weak offenses.
I see this as a game the Nittany Lions expose Wisconsin and can run to set up big plays through the air. Most teams have been able to run some and Penn State will offer the best quarterback and running backs the Wisconsin defense has seen (by far).
The Badgers will also have a tough time dealing with the Penn State defense.
Penn State needs to keep impressing in games like this since its win over USC doesn’t look as quality anymore.
Penn State 24, Wisconsin 10
AUSTIN BECHTOLD, NSN/93.7 THE FAN
A night game in Madison isn’t going to be easy. It further complicates things for Penn State with the significance an atmosphere can have on the game. Coming off the bye with two weeks to prepare, Penn State will be ready to go in front of a national audience. I’d worry about a letdown game after an emotional win at USC if there wasn’t a week off in between, but the flare has worn off and it feels like we’re just waiting for the Nittany Lions to take the field again.
Drew Allar will throw for two touchdowns and both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will score. Tyler Warren will probably do something special again. This also can’t be a trap game before Ohio State. The Badgers aren’t a great football team, but shouldn’t at all be taken likely, especially at home. Penn State moves to 7-0 before the biggest game of the year.
Penn State 28, Wisconsin 20
ANDY STINE, NITTANY SPORTS NOW/ALTOONA MIRROR
There’s a lot to play for, and two weeks to prepare. That’s two good reasons for PSU to play well.
Penn State 35, Wisconsin 28
JARROD PRUGAR, NITTANY SPORTS NOW/ALTOONA MIRROR
Wisconsin comes into the game with confidence from playing good football and beating up teams who are a combined 2-10 in the Big Ten. Penn State also comes into the game against the Badgers with some confidence and fresh legs. The Nittany Lions will be sluggish to start but pull away when it matters
Penn State 34, Wisconsin 13
JOE SMELTZER (NITTANY SPORTS NOW)
I have a feeling about this one. There’s no logical real why Penn State should blow out Wisconsin. The Badgers are 5-2, playing at home in a night game with three blowout wins in a row. But Penn State hasn’t blown out anybody— not counting woeful Kent State— outside of West Virginia Week 1 and is just 2-4 against the spread despite being ranked No. 3. My gut tells me Penn State is due to whoop on somebody.
This game also comes down to what’s realistic and what isn’t. Is it realistic for Wisconsin’s defense to keep playing at this level, where it’s allowed just one touchdown in three games? Probably not. Is it realistic for Penn State’s running game to stay slow (3.3 yards per carry over the past two games)? Doubtful. Is it realistic for Drew Allar, who is historically good at not throwing interceptions, to not bounce back after throwing three against USC? I don’t think so.
All of this makes me think this game will not be close.
Penn State 38, Wisconsin 10
These are our Penn State predictions. What are yours?
