I don’t know. WVU really isn’t expected to be very good this year. In fact, they were picked dead last in the new 14 team Big 12 this year. I figure Penn St can do about anything they want to offensively. The defense was bad last year and there isn’t any reason to expect anything much different this year.
I want to see if WVU can move the ball on the ground against them, though. The one thing WVU seems to have going for it is a veteran OL and what looks to be a decent stable of backs. For the first time in several years WVU will have a running threat at QB so zone reads and designed QB runs are expected to be back on the table.
Last I checked the line is 19.5. If WVU can keep it within 17 I’ll consider it somewhat of a moral victory. I just don’t want one of these 35-7 type scores going into halftime.
Strange things happen in those first games. Especially with a new QB. Especially a Franklin coached team. (Franklin's teams usually get better as the year goes on)
In 2022 Penn State struggled against Purdue.
In 2021 they struggled against Wisconsin.
In 2020 they lost to Indiana
In 2019 they opened up against two patsies, but barely beat Pitt in game 3
In 2018 they they barely beat App State in overtime
In 2017 they started very strong, but returned nearly everyone from the previous year
In 2016 they played a patsy to start, and then lost to Pitt
In 2015 they lost to Temple
In 2014 they barely beat UCF on a field goal as time expired
In 9 years:
Losses: 2
Close wins: 4
Close wins after playing cupcakes: 1
Losses after playing a cupcake: 1
Comfortable wins: 1
This is also the first time since 2017 that Penn State returns both coordinators, so that might play a factor in these slow starts.
