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2009 Penn State Season Preview (Part II)

Charles Welch by Correspondent Written on July 06, 2009
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STATE COLLEGE - NOVEMBER 22:  Evan Royster #22 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against the Michigan State Spartans on November 22, 2008 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Joe Sargent/Getty Images

We are! Penn State!

I'm not a Penn State fan by any stretch, but that chant even gets me fired up! At this point Penn State is 5-1, and has sufferedd a disappointing loss to an improved Illini team.

They have an opportunity to bounce back and finish strong down the stretch to contend for a Big Ten title.

The biggest thing that stands in their way is just how unpredictable the conference is going to be in 2009, but Penn State has as good of an opportunity to win the conference as any!

Week 7 vs. The Minnesota Golden Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01:  Adam Weber #8 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers fakes a pass down field as he scrambles out of  the pocket against the Northwestern Wildcats during the third quarter at the Hubert H.Humphrey Metrodome on November 1, 2008 in Minne

FACTS:

1) The last five games in the series were decided by the rushing total. Penn State has that going in their favor. They out-rushed Minnesota for the season by more than two yards per carry in 2008.

2) Minnesota has won four of six in the series, though a few of these victories came against Penn State teams who were struggling to win. That won't be the case in 2009.

This game will be fairly close, and by no means a blowout, but Penn State should win this game by about two touchdowns.

Penn State 31, Minnesota 14

PSU is 6-1

Week 8 at The Michigan Wolverines

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 22:  Steve Brown #3 of the Michigan Wolverines passes the ball during the Big Ten Conference game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

FACTS:

1) Michigan has won five straight home games in this series. Penn State was ranked 15th or higher in four of those contests.

2) Michigan has won nine of the last 10 game in this series. Last year, Penn State trailed 17-7 before scoring 39 unanswered points to break a nine-game losing streak against the Wolverines.

3) Michigan was tied at 17 late in the third quarter last year when starter Steven Threet was knocked out of the game. The rest became history.

This game is going to be a tough game. It will be won in the trenches and decided by which offensive line gets off the ball the best. Michigan came out for a half last year and moved Penn State around a bit.

Don't be suprised if Michigan comes into this game 6-1 and very pumped up ready to get physical for four quarters. This game should come down to the wire, however don't be suprised if Michigan pulls what now looks like a major upset.

Michigan 31, Penn State 24

PSU is 6-2

Week 9 at The Northwestern Wildcats

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 08:  Stephan Simmons #25 of the Northwestern Wildcats is tackled by Shaun Lane #29 and Austin Spitler #38 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ryan Stadium on November 8, 2008 in Evanston, Illinois  (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

FACTS:

1) Penn State and Northwestern have played close games in Evanston as of late. The last five games played there have been decided by an average of five points.

2) Penn State has won nine of the last 12 in this series, but only two of the last four in the series. PSU is 2-9 in the second of back-to-back road games.

All signs point to this actually being a competitive game, and it might be somewhat close, but I'm not buying a Northwestern victory by any measure this year. Penn State is too equipped to lose this game or back-to-back games.

Final Score: Penn State 34, Northwestern 7

PSU is 7-2

Week 10 vs.The Ohio State Buckeyes

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 05:  Runningback Daniel Herron #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled by Earl Thomas #12 of the Texas Longhorns during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Game on January 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo

Penn State has never beaten Ohio State in back-to-back seasons. Could this be the year to end that trend? Penn State has the senior leadership from Daryll Clark to win the game in Happy Valley.

Led by Evan Royster, Penn State has an established running back unit and the offensive line should be solid by this point in the season.

Expect the defense to be strong, especially at linebacker. OSU won't get much between the tackles.

Terrelle Pryor will have to carry The Buckeyes if they want to win this game. He will have to do better than six yards on nine carries in this game while making sure to hold on to the football.

I wouldn't be surprised if he were used as a wide receiver in the game, very similar to the Texas game in 2009.

Any big play for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes will come close to winning.

But Penn State will win in the end.

Final Score: Penn State 24, Ohio State 21

PSU is 8-2

Week 11 vs. The Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 01:  Bryan Payton #27 of the Indiana Hooisers carries the ball during the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Memorial Stadium on November 1, 2008 in Bloomington, Indiana.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

FACTS:

1) PSU is 12-0 vs. Indiana and has won the last five games by 26 points per game.

2) Indiana only managed six first downs in 2008's game, and 180 yards of offense.

Penn State 38, Indiana 7

PSU is 9-2

Week 12 at The Michigan State Spartans

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Center Joel Nitchman #65 of the Michigan State Spartans sets to block against the Georgia Bulldogs at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Penn State has won seven of the last nine games in this series. Last year they beat MSU last year 49-18 and held Javon Ringer to a season-low rushing total of 42 yards.

This game should be a lot closer than last year's blowout. I expect Michigan State to be a lot better by this point in the season.

Daryll Clark will strap it up for one more Big Ten contest, leading the Nittany Lions to a big fourth quarter comeback.

Penn State 30, Michigan State 27

PSU is 10-2 overall

Conference record is 6-2

PF 419
PA 197

Visit me at wolverinelounge.blogspot.com

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written on July 06, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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