Penn State Football: Predicting the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl

Contributor Corey Hunter

Penn State gets a nice reward for finishing ties for second in the BigTen East, a trip to sunny Arizona to battle another 10-win team — the Washington Huskies.

The Nittany Lions have notoriously been successful out in the desert. They are 6-0 all-time in the Fiesta Bowl including winning the second of their national titles in 1987 (‘86 season). Penn State is also looking to avoid its first-ever 3-Bowl losing streak.

Washington Head Coach Chris Petersen is no stranger to the Fiesta Bowl either. As head coach of the upstart Boise State Broncos, he led them to the 2006 and 2009 titles.

Suffice it to say, both teams are relatively evenly matched. With this game likely headed for a “pick ‘em” before kickoff, who wins?

Penn State has struggled to run the football this year. I’m not sure that changes with Ricky Rahne now calling the plays as OC. Defensive tackle Vita Vea is every bit the hulk he is made out to be. With Penn State likely to struggle running the ball, the offense once again falls on QB Trace McSorley. While he’s capable of winning games by himself, it will be difficult against one of the nation’s best defenses.

Washington QB Jake Browning is able to escape pressure and he is very accurate with his passes. Not only that, but RB Myles Gaskin, in the Saquon Barkley mold, likes to take plays designed to go one way and bounce them outside for big gainers.

Wide receiver Dante Pettis possesses the speed and skills to give the Penn State secondary fits. Pettis is also the NCAA leader with nine punt returns for scores.

In the end, Washington will be able to make a few more plays than Penn State. While the Nittany Lions have been good the past few years, one thing remains constant, if their opponent is solid in all three phases, which Washington is, the Nittany Lions find a way to come up a bit short in the end. The Fiesta Bowl will be no different.

Penn State – 24

Washington – 27