Penn State Football: Predictions for the Citrus Bowl

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 01: Amani Oruwariye #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after intercepting a pass in overtime to clinch the win against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Corey Hunter, Contributor

Penn State will be bowling in sunny Orlando, Florida, not a bad consolation prize for just missing out on their third consecutive New Year’s Six Bowl game. And, after putting the finishing touches on another early recruiting period, the future looks awfully bright in Happy Valley.

While no national or conference titles will be celebrated by the Nittany Lions this season, they still have the opportunity to finish off the season with 10 wins, something that hasn’t happened since the ‘80-82 teams. All that stands in their way are the upstart Kentucky Wildcats out of the SEC.

If you had asked me to predict this game earlier this month, I would have said Penn State would have won by double digits. Penn State had many more offensive weapons and their defense had been improving each week, while Kentucky had been up and down. Now, with each team being given about a month to prepare for one another, the momentum could be shifting — especially after the Wildcats top offensive and defensive playmakers, Benny Snell and Josh Allen respectively, will be playing.

Currently, Penn State is installed as a seven-point favorite by most national books, but Kentucky will be definitely be motivated for this game (I expect the spread to drop to around six points by kickoff). Their defense ranks 3rd in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 16.3 points per game. The Wildcats ability to contain Penn State Quarterback Trace McSorley will go a long way in determining the game’s outcome.

While the Wildcats have a much-talked-about defense, their offense is equally as bad. They rank near the bottom of the conference in scoring offense, and outside of playmaking running back Benny Snell, their offense is mostly stuck in neutral. In fact, Kentucky ranks last in the SEC in passing offense averaging a scant 164.8 yards per game.

Penn State has done very well this year when they’ve faced one-dimensional teams. If Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry can design a game plan to slow Snell, the Nittany Lions should be able to contain the Wildcats offense.

With the playmakers Penn State has on offense, and the new ones emerging at wide receiver, I expect the Lions to find enough offense to send Trace McSorley and Miles Sanders (I think he turns pro) out winners of the Citrus Bowl.

Penn State – 27
Kentucky – 21

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