BCS Bowl Predictions: Amid Controversy, Penn State Will Play in Rose Bowl

There is a cloud so thick around the Penn State campus right now, after the controversy to former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, that it is very hard to see anything past this case. 

But, let’s separate the Sandusky case from what this Penn State team has done this year. As the season heads to the final stretch of games, Penn State has a huge two game lead in the Big Ten Leaders division over teams like Ohio State and Wisconsin. 

In a year that saw this Penn State team get absolutely demolished at home in Week 2 against Alabama, they have recovered amazingly to rip off seven straight wins. 

Those seven wins have seen this Penn State team emerge as one of the best defenses in the nation, as they have only allowed more than 20 points once in those seven games, while allowing 10 or less points in five of those seven games. 

The Achilles heel of this Nittany Lions team is the offense. Yes, in five of those games where the defense allowed 10 or less points, the Penn State offense only scored more than 20 points once, in a win against Eastern Michigan. 

Sorry to say, but Eastern Michigan is not on the same level as Michigan, Michigan State or Nebraska. 

But, even with the shortcomings on offense, they have found a way to win. And that’s how good teams end up in BCS Bowl games, like the Rose Bowl. 

This week, this Penn State team has a huge game that will all but lock up the Big Ten Leaders division. 

A win over a good No. 19 Nebraska team in Happy Valley will give this Penn State team a two-game lead with two games remaining on their schedule. Their defense should shut down Nebraska’s quarterback, Taylor Martinez, which will put the entire game on the shoulders of Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead. 

Putting the game on the broad shoulders of Burkhead will prove to be to much for Nebraska to carry, as it will lead to the Cornhuskers not being able to overcome this stifling Penn State defense. 

The story for this Penn State season was going to be all about how Joe Paterno still can put together a great team. It was going to be about Paterno winning his 409th game, thus becoming the most winningest head coach in college football history.

It was going to be about how Penn State was going to win the first Big Ten Championship game. 

Instead, all of that will be forgotten, but it will not slow down this great Penn State team, as it will be the Big Ten’s Champion and representative in the Rose Bowl. 

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