Beating the Spread: Pittsburgh at Penn State

Date: Saturday, September 14
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Beaver Stadium, Universal Park, PA
Network: ABC

Back in the 1970s and into the ’80s this was one of the biggest rivalries in college football, but not anymore. The Nittany Lions are the dominant team in this series and have been for some time. Gone are the days of Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, etc.  So let’s look at this matchup and see if once again we have a mismatch or if Pitt can make a solid run at the Nittany Lions this time around.

Keys to the Game

Can Pitt score

Embed from Getty Images

The Panthers problem so far has been on the offensive side of the ball and if they are to win this game that needs to change right now because the Nittany Lions can score some points! I have a hard time seeing the Pitt offensive line holding off the Penn State pass rush, which has been dominant so far this season. While it is true that Penn State has not played the best competition so far, I think this could be one of the better defenses in the country, at least when it comes to getting after the passer. On offense, if the Panthers are to stay in this game they need to control the clock and move the chains and to do that they will need to get the run game going and be more consistent in their aerial attack.

Penn State vs. Pitt Defense

Embed from Getty Images

So far this season the Panthers defense has played well against mobile quarterbacks and Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is not that mobile, but he is a much better pocket passer than Pitt has faced. Pitt has to eliminate the Nittany Lions explosive plays especially early in the game.

Prediction: The Nittany Lions, in my opinion, are just too explosive for the Panthers all the way around. 17 points is a lot to give up in a rivalry game, but I think the Nittany Lions cover this.

Penn State 38  Pitt 17