For
the past two years I have both, made season predictions for Penn State
Football, and wrote game recaps for each game (I will leave a link to
both articles of my season predictions, and all of my game recaps from
the past two seasons). We will take a look at each game, give a little
summary, and predict outcome as well as the score.
Penn State vs Central Florida
Christian Hackenberg will have a season of
experience under his belt, and put in a solid effort last season in the
Nittany Lions meeting with the Knights. (21/28 262 passing yards 1 TD).
Zach Zwinak ran for three touchdowns. Central Florida will be without
Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson. The Knights are returning three of
their leading receivers from last year, but Central Florida quarterback
Justin Holman will be playing behind an inexperienced offensive line and
a much improved Penn State secondary.
Final Score: Penn State 35 Central Florida 24
Actual Result- Penn State 26 Central Florida 24
Actual Result- Penn State 26 Central Florida 24
Penn State vs Akron
Akron finished the 2013 season on a good
note by winning its last three games. But despite some improvement, Penn
State should still come away with the easy win in this contest
Final Score Penn State 34 Akron 13
Actual Result- Penn State 21 Akron 3
Actual Result- Penn State 21 Akron 3
Penn State vs Rutgers
This one may be a surprise test for the
Nittany Lions. On paper Penn State are clear favorites, but Rutgers
returns 8 starters on offense, including quarterback Gary Nova. But the
Scarlet Knights gave up an average of 400 yards on defense per game
(412.8). Not to mention 312 yards through the air, where Hackenberg
could put on a clinic in this game
Final Score Penn State 45 Rutgers 21
Actual Result- Penn State 13 Rutgers 10
Actual Result- Penn State 13 Rutgers 10
Penn State vs UMass
In what should be a tune up game before
entering the heart of the season schedule, the Nittany Lions should run
away with this one, and be able to give some players on bottom part of
depth chart some playing time
Final Score Penn State 55 UMass 10
Actual Result- Penn State 48 UMass 7
Actual Result- Penn State 48 UMass 7
Penn State vs Northwestern
Northwestern always puts up a good fight
against Penn State. But expect the Nittany Lions like in recent games
before, to take control of this one by the second half with its running
attack.
Final Score Penn State 41 Northwestern 31
Actual Result- Northwestern 29 Penn State 6
Actual Result- Northwestern 29 Penn State 6
Penn State vs Michigan
Heading into the Big House is no easy
task. It is even harder going into Ann Arbor during primetime. Perhaps
another instant classic is in store for us when the Nittany Lions and
Wolverines meet up in 2014. Whether or not that is the case, I expect
the Wolverines to come out on top in this one.
Final Score Penn State 25 Michigan 35
Actual Result- Michigan 18 Penn State 13
Actual Result- Michigan 18 Penn State 13
Penn State vs Ohio State
This one will be a lot closer than last
year’s embarrassing 63-14 loss in Columbus. Plus this one will also be
in primetime, but this time in State College. But in the end Braxton
Miller and the Ohio State Buckeyes experience will ultimately win out in
this one
Final Score Penn State 28 Ohio State 38
Actual Result Ohio State 31 Penn State 24
Penn State vs Maryland
The Nittany Lions will face an experienced
Maryland team (thanks to injuries that allowed players on bottom of
depth chart to receive playing time) If Maryland can stay healthy, it
may walk out of Beavier Stadium with a “W”
Final Score Penn State 28 Maryland 35
Actual Result- Maryland 20 Penn State 19
Actual Result- Maryland 20 Penn State 19
Penn State vs Indiana
One of the main reasons Penn State lost to
Indiana for the first time in school history last season was because
they did not stick to the ground game (which Indiana ranked amongst one
of the worse last season (110th). If they stick to a sound game plan,
control the game clock, and keep Indiana’s offense off the field as long
as possible, then the Nittany Lions will avoid another upset.
Final Score Penn State 44 Indiana 26
Actual Result- Penn State 13-7
Actual Result- Penn State 13-7
Penn State vs Temple
Giving up nearly 300 yards a game through
the air last year, Hackenberg will have another day at the office
against the Owls secondary.
Final Score Penn State 48 Temple 17
Actual Result- Penn State 30 Temple 13
Actual Result- Penn State 30 Temple 13
Penn State vs Illinois
Illinois was both bad on the run game on
both sides of the ball. Penn State is typically good at stopping the
run, and a solid run game and performance by both Zach Zwinak and Bill
Belton should vault the Nittany Lions past the Fighting Illini
Final Score Penn State 27 Illinois 16
Actual Result- Illinois 16 Penn State 14
Penn State vs Michigan State
The Spartans will have one of the best
defenses and ranked 2nd overall in the country last year on route to a
13-1 record which included a Big Ten Championship and a victory in the
Rose Bowl over Stanford. The Nittany Lions will have their hands full on
offense. But I actually expect Penn State to make this game closer than
some may think by putting up a valiant effort on defense as well.
Final Score Penn State 20 Michigan State 24
Final Overall Prediction for 2014 Season: Penn State- Overall 8-4 (Big Ten 4-4)
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