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Penn State Football: Predicting the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl

By Barry Leonard Jr.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Tight end Mike Gesicki
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Tight end Mike Gesicki /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions eludes the tackle of defensive back RaVon Davis #21 of the Maryland Terrapins after catching a pass in the first quarter at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions eludes the tackle of defensive back RaVon Davis #21 of the Maryland Terrapins after catching a pass in the first quarter at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Co-Site Expert Collin Wieder

Penn State football’s top-tier offense matches up with Washington QB Jake Browning and the fifth-ranked Huskies’ defense. The Huskies went 10-2 in 2017 and looked the part of a contender at times. They dominated an easy schedule and beat just one ranked opponent in Washington State at the end of the season, so it’s tough to gauge.

With that said about the strength of schedule, Browning is still an efficient passer carrying a TD-to-INT ratio of 18-to-5. He completed 68.8 percent of his passes and will try to keep the ball out of Penn State’s athletic defense. Although he’s the big name, third-year starting running back Myles Gaskin deserves his due. He completed his third straight 1,000-plus yard season while adding 19 touchdowns on the ground.

Luckily for the Nittany Lions, this plays right in their hands. They allow just 3.4 yards per rush and hold opponents to 119.2 rushing yards per game. Their defense against the run will be key on whether they can stop the Huskies and make them one-dimensional.

On the other side, Saquon Barkley has tough sledding as well. The Washington run defense holds opponents under 95 yards per game and just 2.7 yards per rush. The passing defense isn’t much easier to move on allowing 185.1 through the air.

Trace McSorley has to be smart and if he can play like he did most of the season, Penn State has a chance to come out on top. It’ll be razor-thin with two quality defenses, but I expect these offenses to transcend some of that and score points. I’m taking Penn State, 27-24.

Penn State 27
Washington 24

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