Official State at USC score prediction thread

[Lionville]

PSU -5.5 last time I checked.

Line is down to PSU -4.

 

[psuro]

Watching some of the beat writers for PSU i am a little surprised so many are picking PSU. Not all but most.

 

[PSUFBFAN]

Watching some of the beat writers for PSU i am a little surprised so many are picking PSU. Not all but most.

Same guys that all picked PSU to beat Ohio State last year?

 

[ILLINOISLION]

PSU 27
USC 24

Is there anybody who would be upset with this result?

Sure all the Trojan fans EXCEPT the one cheerleader that was rooting for Texas!

 

[BiochemPSU]

What's the thinking here ... they're going to look past USC for ... Wisconsin?!? Wisky would be the week PSU would potentially in a lull ... the scenario being after they get over the USC hump with OSU looming the following week, in comes Wisky (well, we actually go there, but that's not the point) and PSU is not fully invested in that game. I don't think they'd be looking ahead 2 weeks/2 games ... that's not a thing.

Besides, I'm pretty sure that's just the level of squad USC is ... middling with some talent ... so they'll look better than they really are some weeks, and then they'll struggle and lose to some not great squads other weeks.

Looking ahead to OSU.

 

[Train027]

Penn State has the better team and should win but past failures in games like this gave Franklin his reputation as a recruiter not a gameday coach.

 

[STPGopherfan]

I think PSU wins but USC definitely has the advantage with FG kicking.

Their kicker used to kick for Minnesota. Decent leg, but they have to get into range. Most of their yardage came from our DL not engaging their OL and the OL tying up the backers. I don't know if they will have that level of success running because I don't see your backers being taken out of the play.

Flip side is our backs are good, but not true homerun backs. There were a couple of runs by Taylor that if he had just a little more speed, they could have been TDs instead of chunk gains.

BTW, are Penn State fans going to double dip since both of our teams will be in Southern California this weekend?

 

[Marshall2323]

If PSU wins, team played well. If PSU loses Franklin coached a bad game.

 

[VicVaselino]

27-10.

Bet your life savings, I never miss.

 

[LionsAndBears]

PSU 27
USC 17

 

[ILLINOISLION]

FYI:

The USA TODAY website has all six pickers picking PSU…..four of six picking tOSU.

 

[psuro]

If PSU wins, team played well. If PSU loses Franklin coached a bad game.

Now you are getting it.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Univ. of Spoiled Children: 38
The Univ. JoePa Built: 36

Another Franklin ****-Up.

Big Game James hired a Special Teams coordinator from Vanderbilt who already knew he was getting fired by Clark Lea because of poor performance.

It took the collective brain trust of James & Justin ( & ) a mere 6 weeks and 5 games to find a semi-capable FG kicker.

Prediction: PSU loses late in the 4th quarter.

 

[G3624]

PSU 23
USC 7

ENIS does not play.

 

[PSU87]

PSU 23
USC 7

ENIS does not play.

Does he suit up?

 

[Manofsteel200]

USC13-PSU12

 

[G3624]

Does he suit up?

Not unless you're buying.

 

[Bob78]

PSU 31 USC 24.
We settle down early enough to start to control the game after USC opens the scoring with a TD. They also close the scoring with a TD. That means we outscore them 31-10 in the middle 45-50 minutes. TEs (multiple) play a big role in moving the chains, RBs do plenty of work to give and maintain momentum on O. The D is the D - they figure it out, play their game, and soon enough USC gets into a bit of a 3 or 4 or 5-and out routine. With 20 minutes to play in the game, the W seems to be all but assured.

 

[Marshall2323]

Big 10 teams are 1-7 or 1-8 when they travel coast to coast. Franklin knew this and allowed the team to get on the plane anyway.

 

[razpsu]

The NCAA has slowly been implementing new clock rules over the past few years to speed up the game (or for us cynics, allow for more time for TV commercials). This year, the clock keeps running after first downs - it used to stop after a first down. Prior changes included keeping the clock running when a ball carrier goes out of bounds.

Net effect - fewer plays and possessions per team. There have been some games where teams only had 7 possessions. I think PSU had 8 possessions in one of their games. Every game is different, but how many teams are going to score on 50-60% of their possessions? Thus, not likely to see high scoring shootouts from both teams as we may have in prior years.

They started that clock thang last year.