No.4 Penn State Football faces mighty challenge with a cross-country trip to the LA Memorial Coliseum to take on USC.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 27-11 victory over UCLA, and improved to 5-0 for the fourth consecutive season.
But before Saturday’s matchup, let’s take a look at some BOLD predictions against the Trojans
Penn State Football Bold Predictions vs. USC
Julian Fleming Scores His First touchdown
Every week, it seems to be someone else’s week with this team’s receiving core.
They’ve had four receivers eclipse the 100-yard mark, and while I don’t expect that from Fleming on Saturday, I do think he finds a way into the endzone for the first time this season.
Last week against UCLA, Fleming was inches away from getting his first. I can see him building off that, and maybe it’s his turn this week to step up and get a few key catches, just like Liam Clifford did last week.
Beau Pribula throws for a TD from the Pribula package
Beau Pribula threw for a TD in week 1 against West Virginia and since then, we haven’t really seen Penn State throw out of the Pribula package since.
The Nittany Lions put quarterback Drew Allar out wide at receiver in the package whenever they do choose to run it— is this the week we see a new wrinkle?
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and company may have a few tricks up their sleeve, and Pribula can be key in the redzone to catch the USC defense off guard with a pass.
Abdul Carter and Dani-Dennis Sutton each tally 2+ sacks
This one may not come as a hot take, but I expect the USC offense to attack with a short-yard passing game early to mitigate the Nittany Lion pass rush and limit sack opportunities.
However, if Penn State can get a lead, run the ball and manage the clock, the Trojans will have to open it up with more deep shot opportunities.
With USC’s weak offensive line, I expect the defensive line unit to wreak havoc in the second half— with Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter coming off the edge.
Carter has had success as a spy in the last few games, but Miller Moss is not much of a runner.
So, it’ll be interesting to see how Penn State schemes Carter as a pass-rusher for Saturday’s game.
MORE: Score Picks, Predictions for Penn State vs. USC
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