A 3rd consecutive cover is the goal here.
Early prediction for a line?
I'd say PSU -17
This, with it ballooning a few points by Friday.Higher, I'd guess. 21.5
Remind me, what was the second half score against Kent State? We scored 28 points, right? That’s more indicative of what this team can do, I think. If we double that, we get 56 points.Penn State just beat our common opponent Kent State 63-10. We beat Kent State 31-24.
By the not so transitive property, I say Ped state 56-10.
Night game and suspended players back gives the team a boost and they hang in their early. I think we keep it under 10 until Penn St runs away with it in the 3rd.
I agree. Think it will play out like UNC in 2016. We come out energized and play right with them until late in the 3rd. Then PSU pulls away due to their superior talent and depth.
We're not getting blown out. I think those days are over
Penn State -27.5
I think we cover. Will be interesting to see which way the line moves throughout the week.
Gotta think it moves down at least a little. I mean Penn St really is that good but it’s still a conference road game in prime time. We see upsets or at least close games in those conditions pretty much every year in the B1G.
With suspended players back and hopefully both motivated and 100% healthy, I think that Illinois will hang around until late and lose by 14 or less. I am not convinced that Penn State is particularly explosive, and I think that the defense has done a great job of making teams put together long drives in order to score this year. PSU will do that, and will score plenty, but the long drives give the defense more opportunities to take the ball away. Illinois' defense will be poor all year long in the "total defense"/yards allowed category, but I think that the scoring defense will be a significant improvement over last year.
Keys to the game:
-Illinois offense needs to have 0 turnovers
-Defense needs to create 2+ turnovers. Welcome back Bennett Williams.
-Five or less penalties, and zero ejections
-Special teams must remain special
-Run on first down. All. Game. Long. Feed Epstein, but give Corbin touches early and often too
-Dorsey up the seam. Dorsey up the seam. Dorsey up the seam. Man have I missed seeing that. Hope he goes off in his first game back.
-Get Smalling 5+ touches
Wildcard that is entirely unknown but could help significantly:
-Jamal Milan returning
Penn State 31
Illinois 20