Penn State is good.
There is a lot of noise about how bad James Franklin is as a coach, but his Penn State Nittany Lions are almost in a perfect spot.
They should win their next three games, which are at Purdue, Minnesota, and Maryland. Also, Washington is an easy game for them to win.
That would get them into the College Football Playoff as an at-large team if they went 11-1. They could also hope for the best and play for the Big Ten Championship.
Before beating USC 26–21, Washington was in BIG trouble just to make it to the bowl game. Now, they have hope again. That is mean, and going to Oregon is a problem. But the home game against UCLA can be won to get that sixth win.
Washington vs Penn State: How to Watch and Game Preview
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
How to Watch: Peacock
Venue: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Teams: Penn State (7-1), Washington (5-4)
Why Washington Will Win
The Huskies’ pass defense has been great.
It is still No. 2 in the country, even though USC scored almost 300 points against it last week. Anyone had ever been able to get a 60% pass rate against that group before.
It is fine that Penn State can pass. People criticize it for not having enough flash and creativity, and it was missing for too long against Ohio State. But it is about to be tested.
The UW front does not have much of a pass rush, but when the ball is in the air, everyone swarms. But…
Why Penn State Will Win
Washington has a hard time moving the ball, and they probably will not get the breaks they need to win.
The team is 3-0 when they get multiple turnovers, but the Penn State offense does not give the ball away, even though it has a lot of problems. The only game the O turned the ball over more than once was against USC.
Washington is good at midrange passes, but it can also run the ball well. The Penn State defense has mostly been solid this year, but they did give up some points to USC and Ohio State. It will have to be all about the passing game against them.
In all but one of their games, Washington needs to throw for at least 247 yards. Bowling Green got more than 220 yards from Penn State, and that was it.
Washington vs Penn State: Who Will Win?
The game will stay close until the end of the half, but Penn State’s running game will start to shine during a few good scoring drives.
The fans will not be happy about this after the bad offensive game against Ohio State, but it is still a win.
Penn State is still being slow and steady instead of shocking. It is fine to be 8-1.
Washington vs Penn State Prediction, Betting Lines
Prediction : Penn State 30, Washington 16
Line : Penn State -13.5, o/u: 45.5
ATS Confidence out of 5 : 3
Must See Rating: 3