Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I'll be disappointed if PSU doesn't beat the snot out of them

I had looked at going to this game, but I had several in-laws that expressed interest in going to a game and the $200 per ticket was not doable for them.

Should be an awesome atmosphere, the stands will be rockin'.

25 home games for PSU, 75 away games in the series.

Don't let UM fans hear you say that

I know, just like the UM-MSU series.  But up the fact that the first like 50ish games of the series were almost exclusively played in Ann Arbor, when MSU was still MAC, a small ag school, to give some perspective, and watch out.

Getting embarrassed in Ann Arbor by Michigan last year hurt.  But losing to Pitt is what has really stuck around for a full year, particularly after the coaches got the rivalry amped back up going into last year.  It's amazing how much has changed since that game ended a year ago.  For Pitt, perhaps Narduzzi was beginning to install the consistency that the program has lacked, seemingly since the days of Marino.  For Penn State, perhaps James Franklin's days were numbered, an elite recruiter who wasn't able to translate it to game days.  Now, Pitt is mired in the same inconsistencies that haunted Chryst and Graham and Wannstedt and really every Pitt coach.  Just when they show you the talent is there, they struggle to put wins together.  Penn State finished last year as hot as anyone in the country, and now have their eyes set on a College Football Playoff appearance, unthinkable 365 days ago.  Perhaps the most important difference from last year is that Matt Canada was hired away, and Joe Moorhead was not.  Canada was the most underrated playcaller in the nation last year, and he had the Nittany Lions defense stymied.  Without him, and their entire offensive backfield lost to the NFL (Nathan Peterman and James Conner), and suspensions to arguably their best player on each side of the ball (OL Alex Bookser and DB Jordan Whitehead), Pitt looks to be in trouble.  Penn State looked like there might as well have been no offseason, the offense picking up right where it left off to close 2016.  The nature of Pitt is that you'd expect them to nearly lose that game last week to Youngstown State and turn around and beat either Penn State or Oklahoma State, before dropping to Virginia or someone like that, but I just don't see it.  The game was close last year, and that was in front of a 50-50ish crowd in Heinz Field, not a rowdy Penn State crowd; Penn State hadn't yet found its groove; and Pitt had Canada, Peterman, Conner, Bookser, Whitehead).  I'm not sure this will get out of hand ugly, but I don't see any way Pitt keeps it close either.
PENN STATE 35, PITTSBURGH 17

Penn State and the Nitts fans have come to except getting their butt kicked by Michigan as just part of their place in the Big Ten.  If Narduzzi has Pitt's defense playing like some of his teams at Michigan State it would be a good idea for Penn State to have a couple other QBs ready.   Who do the Nitts have in reserve?

Penn State's 2nd string QB is Tommy Stevens.  He and Trace McSorley were neck and neck trying to win the starting job last year.  Ultimately Trace prevailed, but it was very close.  Stevens has made several appearances in games, and has always played well.  In addition, Franklin and the players have made many remarks about how good Stevens is. 

Stevens is more of a threat to run, and he is built like a fullback.  He's made a couple of draw-dropping plays on offense in the past.  I feel good about PSU's top 2 QBs.

I was expecting Pitt to just get blown up on the lines of 52-7. However the Pitt D seems decent this year. 

Pitt's offense is just plain lack of talent. Now a good QB can cover up for a lack of offensive talent but that doesn't appear to be Max Browne. I saw this coming after the way the Pitt offense looked after Conner and Nate were knocked out of the bowl game. Its the same offense and Canada leaving has little bearing on it. The gameplan worked great in the 1st half though, just turnovers and not scoring in the red zone did them in. PSU was always going to win but it could have been a 1 score game going into the 4th.  

McSorley seems like he always wants to scramble but I don't think he's very accurate at all throwing on the run at all (in the pocket though, very good). Also any D would be fine having him gain 50 or so yards on the ground becuase it means Barkley isn't getting the ball.