Penn State is on a winning streak after (somehow) beating Washington, and are back in the friendly confines of Beaver Stadium to take on Minnesota. How does the staff see this one playing out?
Chris
Penn State is fresh off another frustrating win, wherein they continued to show the inability to play 60 minutes of competent football. They’re back at home, but with the threat of foul weather looming, will it be enough against a Minnesota team not traditionally known for losing streaks coming off back-to-back
losses?
The offense and defense both produce stretches of competence, and learn to lean on the resurgent run game. But inevitably the 2-plus-quarter meltdown happens, and this time the team can’t overcome it.
Minnesota 24, Penn State 17
Lando
This is the kind of game where if Penn State’s offense was consistently explosve (as opposed to arbitrarily so), Penn State would have the slight edge against a tough Minnesota defense. However, I don’t think the Nittany Lions are able to run all over the Gophers the way they did in the first half against Washington. That combined with the fact they have yet to string together four straight good quarters since before conference play means the win streak comes to an end.
Minnesota 21, Penn State 17
Tim
Penn State might be playing with more confidence now that they’ve rattled off two straight wins in B1G play. I’m not sure what to make of a Minnesota team that upset Iowa, damn near upset Indiana, yet got waxed by Purdue, but it tells me that this game is also ripe for the taking. If the Lions can keep the Gophers ground game in check and force Drake Lindsey to have to throw it 30-plus times to beat them, then I like their chances. After all, Rashod Bateman ain’t walking through that door…
Penn State 24, Minnesota 13
Colin
Minnesota has been nearly impossible to figure out this year. The good news is they are one of the worst rushing teams in the country, averaging just 92 yards per game on the ground. The bad news is just under 4% of their dropbacks end in a sack, one of the best rates in college football. Penn State will need to find some semblance of a pass rush to get the Gophers’ offense off schedule.
Penn State should have better luck passing the ball in this one, as Minnesota allows 7.5 yards per passing attempt. If the Lions can make a few chunk plays in the passing game, running lanes should open as the game goes on. This looks like a close matchup on paper, but give me Penn State at home to make the plays needed to win the game.
Penn State 21, Minnesota 14
