Penn State at USC
USC by 10.5*
|
Name (Season Prediction) |
W |
L |
W |
L |
| Scott Neal (11-2) |
10 |
2 |
11 |
1 |
| Nirav Dalal (10-3) |
9 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
| Mark Harrington (9-4) |
9 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
| Cory James (10-3) |
9 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
| Tom McLaughlin (11-2) |
9 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
Tom Hoffman (10-3) |
7 |
5 |
9 |
3 |
| Rob Riva (9-4) |
7 |
5 |
9 |
3 |
| Mark Brennan (10-3) |
7 |
5 |
11 |
1 |
| Jamie Trescavage (11-2) |
7 |
5 |
10 |
2 |
| Scott Cole (10-3) |
7 |
5 |
9 |
3 |
| Baseline |
Monday Line* |
Straight Up |
Mark Brennan, mxbscout
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 23, USC 21
Expect the Trojans to generate more yardage, but the Lions will get things done by forcing turnovers and winning the special teams' battles. State only scores two TDs to USC's three, but a trio of field goals gives PSU the upset.
Player to watch:
Penn State kicker Kevin Kelly
Regular Season Prediction:
10-3
Surviving the middle-of-the-year road grind will be extremely difficult, especially with two of the stops at locales (Wisconsin and Ohio State) where Penn State has struggled. This team will be much better than the 2007 version, even if the final record (I’m predicting a Florida bowl win) isn’t a vast improvement.
Scott Cole, Psu96
This Week’s Game:
Player to watch:
Regular Season Prediction:
10-3
Penn State will continue the trend of looking unbeatable at home and losing big games on the road. Wisconsin, Purdue and Ohio State will all defeat PSU but a Florida bowl win against an SEC opponent will provide a happy ending to the season.
Nirav Dalal, PlaybookNirav
This Week’s Game:
USC 27, Penn State 16
The one type of offense that Penn State has not faced this year is one where the team has a very good running attack and WRs that are playmakers. The USC defense will yield some points early but will tighten in the 2nd half as they have all season. Trojans get another Rose Bowl win.
Player to watch:
USC Wide Receiver Patrick Turner
Regular Season Prediction:
10-3
The Lions have to find a way to navigate the most difficult October schedule in the Big Ten. Look for loses to OSU for sure and two other teams from the group of Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Oregon State and Purdue. The seniors will rally the team to get Joe a final bowl win in the final chapter of a remarkable career in Happy Valley.
Mark Harrington, PlaybookMark
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 26, USC 20
Give Paterno a month and he’ll more often than not come out with a win. Add in the huge opportunity the players see this as and the fact that most of the country has already penciled in a ‘W’ for USC and I think PSU pulls out a tight one.
Player to watch:
Penn State running back Evan Royster
Regular Season Prediction:
9-4
I see improvement on the whole, but the team needs to prove it had the ability to win on the road and finish out games. With many wondering if the Spread HD can live up to the hype and players on the team indicating "there is nothing much different," we'll see if they can have the material improvements needed to make a run this time around.
Tom Hoffman, underscoreTom
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 17, USC 16
From reading the general sports media, you'd think this was David vs. Goliath. In reality, these teams are nearly identical. They have very good defenses and offenses that can score, but don't have a real superstar leading the way. This one comes down to who wants it more, and since the Rose Bowl to USC is like State College High's seniors spending their Senior Week at Stone Valley State Park, the edge goes to PSU.
Player to watch:
PSU tailback Evan Royster
Regular Season Prediction:
10-3
Penn State has underachieved the past two seasons and 2008 will be the same way. A senior-led WR and OL corps will help QB Patryl Clarvlin settle into the starting role, but questions at LB and DB, as well as a chunk taken out of the DL depth won't help this team get over its road-weary ways. Games at OSU and at Wisky won't be pretty. The 2009 Michigan team will be much like Notre Dame in 2007 (meaning, not nearly as good as the prior year), but will pose a challenge to the Wolverine-challenged Lion coaching staff. While a bowl win is likely, another loss somewhere across the schedule is too.
Cory James, CoryJames
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 26, USC 24
Penn State will have to get home with the pass rush on Sanchez to win this game. Unfortunately, USC has had a lot of time to prepare for the rush. USC will make some big plays in the passing game, but some mistakes will be forced from Sanchez and PSU will capitalize on them. Penn State grabs the early lead, but USC makes a late charge only to stall out.
Player to watch:
Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams
Regular Season Prediction:
10-3
Enough talent to win every game outside of Ohio in 2008. The secondary will have to make plays to have a shot at a BCS birth. Outside of that, all signs point to Florida for the holidays.
Tom McLaughlin, WeRPSUPlaybook
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 24, USC 13
USC has a hit and miss offense that has struggled at times against tough defenses. Look for Bradley to release the hounds to disrupt Sanchez' timing, and for the offense to take advantage of an opportunity or two.
Player to watch:
PSU tailback Stepfhon Green
Regular Season Prediction:
11-2
This season is the one where it is time for Penn State to walk the walk or stop talking. There is a lot of experience and senior leadership on this team, and certainly more talent than most of the other teams on the schedule. If one or both quarterbacks rise to the occasion, this season could be special, but a road trip to Columbus looms, and it has been a long time since PSU was a dominating road team.
Scott Neal, PSUMtnBike
This Week’s Game:
Penn State 27, USC 24
USC has more pro talent. Penn State is a better college football team.
Player to watch:
Penn State running back Evan Royster
Regular Season Prediction:
11-2
Penn State has potential for an explosive offense. Add in a quality defense with good speed and a Big Ten championship isn't out of the question. The Lions must solve their road woes.
Rob Riva, rriva
This Week’s Game:
USC 20, Penn State 13
This will be a hard fought defensive game that will be decided in the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions will not get blown out like many talking heads have pontificated, but Trojans' talent on both sides of the ball give them the edge to pull out the win.
Player to watch:
USC wide receiver Patrick Turner
Regular Season Prediction:
9-4
There is enough talent on both sides of the ball to carry Penn State to a BCS bowl game this year. However, the Nittany Lions' success in 2008 will depend on offensive play-calling and whether the team can remain free from injuries. If the offense opens up and executes — both home and away — Penn State has a solid chance of making a run for a BCS berth. If not, Penn State will make another trip to Orlando, Tampa or San Antonio for a bowl.
Jamie Trescavage, jsT10
This Week’s Game:
USC 31, Penn State 13
Penn State's offense will go only as far as Darryl Clark takes it. Unfortunately, the Trojan defense is just too good in this match up. Penn State will keep it close early, but USC's defense has only given up 17 points in the second half this entire season and that trend continues on New Year's Day.
Player to watch:
USC runningback Joe McKnight
Regular Season Prediction:
11-2
The offense will be effective because of a solid, veteran offensive line and wide receiving corps, which will both help the inexperienced Nittany Lion quarterbacks to mature. The defense, despite the huge loss of leader and tackle-machine Sean Lee, will again be solid under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. Expect tough road losses at Wisconsin and Ohio State.
*Note: Point spread is from Monday to allow timely picks.
|
Act Now!
|
|
Click to learn more!
|
