Penn State Football: Predictions for the Citrus Bowl

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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 08: KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after rushing for a 32 yard touchdown i the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 8, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Barry Leonard, Co-Site Expert

Penn State gets a chance to go for its third-straight 10-win season. To do that, the Nittany Lions will need to knock off the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats.

It’s been over a month since the Nittany Lions have been on the field, so there’s sure to be some mishaps and sloppy plays. I won’t be surprised at all to see Penn State start slow and for the game to be close at halftime.

The Kentucky defense is one of the best in the nation, led by star linebacker Josh Allen. It will take a while to get going, but Trace McSorley, Miles Sanders, and KJ Hamler will eventually prove to be too much for the Wildcats. Penn State will look to use its big=play offense to put up points.

For as strong as the Wildcats are on defense, their offense struggles. Outside of the run game, led by Benny Snell, Kentucky won’t have enough firepower to keep pace with the Nittany Lions. Penn State defensive coordinator will have a field day going after the one-dimensional attack of the Kentucky offense.

Penn State’s defense improved as the year went on, particularly guys like Micah Parsons and Yetur Gross-Matos.

The Nittany Lions are the favorites, and I don’t see anything to change that. The game will start slow, but Penn State will pull away in the end and leave Orlando with a bowl win.

Penn State 27
Kentucky 10

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