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Penn State vs Wisconsin: Prediction roundtable

By Barry Leonard Jr.

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 05: Tommy Stevens #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is congratulated after his touchdown run by Trace McSorley #9 and Irvin Charles #11 during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 5, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Iowa 41-14. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 05: Tommy Stevens #2 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is congratulated after his touchdown run by Trace McSorley #9 and Irvin Charles #11 during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 5, 2016 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Iowa 41-14. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Penn State fans take in the game during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 11, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Penn State fans take in the game during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 11, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Corey Hunter, Contributor

Penn State returns home after a humbling and thorough beatdown at the hands of Michigan. I wish I could say I didn’t see that one coming, but that wouldn’t be accurate. I didn’t see 42 points being scored, but I was close. Anyway, new game, new week.

This week, Wisconsin comes to town with one of the top rushing offenses in the country. Defensively, Penn State has been rather pedestrian against the run this year. This might be the worst kept secret, but look for Wisconsin to run the ball, the. Run the ball some more.

Former Malvern Prep standout Alex Hornibrook was forced to leave Wisconsin’s game against Rutgers last week with a concussion. His availability this week is in doubt leaving the possibility of Jack Coan to man the Badger offense.

Coan is more a game manager than anything. Last week against Rutgers when Coan was pressed into duty after the Hornibrook injury, Wisconsin ran seven straight times before Coan finally passed it. I think it’s a safe bet that in what will likely be a hostile environment, Wisconsin will be happy to let the Big Ten’s leading rusher, Jonathan Taylor, carry the ball at least 25 times and eat up the clock.

Penn State has to take advantage of the chances they get. A youth movement could be starting in Happy Valley. Players like Jahan Dotson on offense and Micah Parsons on defense are paving the way for the new blood ofNittany Lions and Coach Franklin even hinted that they and other younger players may need to be getting more game snaps.

Overall, I have a really difficult time picking the Nittany Lions. They have virtually nothing left to play for this season. No national title. No Big Ten title. No major bowl game. Apparently pride and some mythical 10-win relevance are supposed to motivate them.

Wisconsin reminds me of Iowa. Both teams want to ground-and-pound and wear you down. By all rights, Iowa should have won the game, but made more mistakes than the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin is in a tough two-game stretch as they travel to Purdue next weekend.

For me, the difference is Wisconsin still has something to play for and Penn State doesn’t. The cold conditions combined with a lack of parking will keep attendance down, and I think Bucky and Badgers leave State College with hard fought win. Give me Wisconsin and the nine points.

Penn State – 20
Wisconsin – 24

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