Penn State Football: 3 bold predictions for Iowa game

Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (94) hurries Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Penn State, Saturday, Oct., 12, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.191012 Penn St Iowa Fb 014 Jpg
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (94) hurries Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Penn State, Saturday, Oct., 12, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.191012 Penn St Iowa Fb 014 Jpg /
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Penn State Football and Iowa meet Saturday in Iowa City in what is one of the more consequential games of the 2021 College Football season 

Penn State Football’s top five match-up versus Iowa is in someways the most meaningful conference game of the year (No. 3 vs No. 4 in the nation will do that) and in other’s merely a divisional crossover game where either team losing don’t stop them from controlling their own destiny to play in the conference championship game.

We’ve reviewed how both teams can win, but let’s take a look at three BOLD predictions about the big game at Kinnick Stadium.

Here are three bold predictions for Penn State Football vs. Iowa

BOLD Prediction #1 — Sean Clifford will lead the Nittany Lions in rushing?

Huh?!?

The Penn State Football backfield is loaded, and with the emergence of John Lovett the past few weeks, there’s no way the athletic but hardly fleet of foot Sean Clifford can lead this team in rushing, especially if the Lions are expected to pull off the (minor) upset?

The backfield is going to split carries, so it’s not impossible two or three backs could have nice days (between 5-10 carries and 50 yards) but not accumulate a lot of yards singularly.  We know the Iowa secondary is going to try to take away star WR Jahan Dotson so look for Clifford have to pull it down and run for a key first down or two.  I predict two 20+ yard runs and when taking out any potential yardage lost for sacks, Clifford could very well lead the Lions in rushing (and to victory).