The Nittany Lions enter the first year of the post-Darryl Clark era with an outside shot in the Big Ten. Al Dannity likes Penn State to perform well in 2010.
The schedule PSU may face its biggest test of the season early with a September 11 game at defending national champions Alabama. The Nittany Lions have an otherwise tame non-conference schedule although the visit of Temple on September 25 will prove an ideal tune-up ahead of Big Ten play.
Penn State’s conference hopes rest on its games with Iowa and Ohio State. Joe Paterno’s team won’t have to wait long to take on the Hawkeyes as the Nittany Lions travel to Iowa on October 2. A November 6 date with Minnesota in Happy Valley should serve as a solid warm-up ahead of the big road test against the Buckeyes a week later.
The players All eyes will be on who starts under center this fall, replacing the dynamic Darryl Clark. Freshman Paul Jones impressed in the spring game but he will have a tough time competing with Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin. College Football betting fans should follow this battle closely.
Whoever starts at quarterback will have plenty of support. The Nittany Lions return 8 offensive starters, with All-Big Ten running back Evan Royster the star of the show. He is joined by 4 members of last year’s offensive line, including All-Big Ten center Stefan Wisniewski.
With 7 returning starters we can expect Penn State’s blue-collar defense to be solid once again in 2010. Kicker Collin Wagner is also a returning starter from 2009.
The forecast Victory at Alabama would catapult the Nittany Lions into the national title discussion but this game will probably come a little too early for Penn State. Replacing Clark will take a few games and the trip to Tuscaloosa will come too soon for the offense to be firing on all cylinders.
Penn State’s Big Ten schedule does it few favors. The only benefit of getting Iowa so early is that it means PSU will have a big gap between its two toughest conference games. The Nittany Lions will find Iowa has the same defense that stifled them for the past two seasons and an improving offense. I don’t like Penn State’s chances much in a late season test at the Horseshoe, where the Buckeyes will have one eye on the national title discussion.
While I don’t like Penn State to win any of its three biggest games, this is a team with the talent and discipline to crush the rest of its slate. I like Penn State to go 9-3 in 2010 and make a return to the Capital One Bowl on January 1.
