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@ Iowa Hawkeyes
This is a team that has underperformed the last few years. Expectations are usually pretty high, but the team cannot live up to them.
Last year, injuries to their top receiving threats left quarterback Jake Christensen without much to work with. He ended with just a 53.5 percent completion rate. Luckily for him and the running game, the offensive line is intact, and both of his favorite targets—WR Andy Brodell and TE Tony Moeaki—are healthy this year.
On the defensive side there has been much turnover, but the returners are some of the best in the Big Ten, including both tackles on the defensive line. Also, most of the new starters, including both defensive ends and both cornerbacks, did play significant time last year and were impressive.
This is a strong Iowa team that as always has the potential to be solid. However, potential and what actually happens are very different things.
Penn State’s defense should be able to contain the Iowa offense and disrupt Christensen as it did last year. If the coaching staff does not hold this team back in another important road game, the Penn State offense, which I expect to have a tough time at first, should eventually be able to pass on the first year starting cornerbacks of Iowa and use the experience at the WR position to take advantage of the secondary.
This should be another game where Clark, and a little bit of Devlin, should be able to pass and run the spread in order to soften up the front seven and let Royster, Carter, and Green close the game out in the fourth quarter. Penn State wins this one, 27-10.
Indiana Hoosiers
After a tough stretch of games against the top tier of the Big Ten, as well as being on the road for two weeks, the Nittany Lions return home and face the Hoosiers of Indiana.
Kellen Lewis is a very solid dual-threat QB and caused Penn State problems last year. However, his top target James Hardy, who abused Justin King, is now in the NFL on the Buffalo Bills. Penn State's secondary should be able to contain the Hoosiers' WRs and will need to focus on Lewis and his legs. He is another quarterback that PSU will see that can win by running around.
The Hoosiers also return depth at the RB position. However, losing three starters on the offensive line will not help Lewis and his running backs against the strong Penn State defensive front.
The Hoosiers do return seven starters on a defense that made a lot of big plays in 2007, forcing 31 turnovers and registering 42 sacks. However, they also gave up a lot of yards (403.4 yards per game) and a lot of points (28.5 per game). This should continue again this year, and Penn State should be able to run its offense effectively in this matchup.
Penn State scored 36 points on Indiana last year, and I see a similar outcome this year. Penn State wins this game, 38-21.
Michigan State Spartans
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