Penn State at Illinois: Prediction Roundtable

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Kent State Golden Flashes at Beaver Stadium on September 15, 2018 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Corey Hunter, Contributor

Penn State opens its Big Ten slate by traveling to Champaign, Illinois to square off against the Illini on a Friday night special.

The Nittany Lions completed the non-conference portion of their schedule unblemished, but now the heart of their season is upon them. Penn State must carefully navigate this part of their schedule and avoid the pitfalls and traps a game like Friday’s contest presents.

Illinois boasts two running backs, Mike Epstein and Reggie Corbin, who rank in top-11 of Big Ten rushers this season, and as a team rank 4th in the conference. Penn State has struggled against the run, giving up an average of 148.33 yards per game.

Look for Illinois to probe the Penn State defensive front with runs and quick hitters, anything the emphasizes ball-control offense. The Illini’s best chance of pulling off the upset is to prevent Penn State from having the ball as much as possible.

For Penn State, they just needs to keep doing what they have been doing. The Illini have allowed 154.67 rushing yards per game including two touchdowns. That stat line should have Miles Sanders salivating! The Illini also allow a near league-worst 325.3 passing yards per game including six touchdowns. Trace McSorley should have no trouble adding to those numbers.

James Franklin has made no bones about his disdain for playing a Friday night game. I think he wants to get a win and get in and out of Illinois as quickly as possible.

The potential of a trap game is always present because of next week’s Whiteout game with Ohio State. However, the silent assassin approach Franklin takes when he has a score to settle (like against Michigan State or Pitt) is what I see transpiring here. Not that he has anything personally against Illinois, but piling on the points just to show up the conference for Penn State playing in this game seems to be on tap.

Like last week, I’m on the Penn State bandwagon and I’m laying the 28 points this week. Let’s say,

Penn State – 45
Illinois – 10

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