Peter Harriman of the Spokesman-Review doing his best Chris Peak impression with this pick. Gotta admire his enthusiasm, I guess. I'm now a little worried about this game due to... Idaho's punter.
Peter Harriman, The Spokesman-Review
The stakes are higher in this game for Penn State than for Idaho. The Nittany Lions are expected to control matters with a top flight defense while giving a significantly retooled offense an opportunity to get game experience against an opponent that struggled to go 3-5 in a good FCS league (the Big Sky Conference) last year and 4-7 overall. There is no similar pressure for Idaho. The world anticipates the Vandals are going to step up to the Big Ten and get rolled by 40.
PLAYER(S) ON THE SPOT: Idaho’s quarterback tandem of Mason Petrino and Colton Richardson was inconsistent against lesser competition than Penn State last season. Coach Paul Petrino has steadily maintained he will name one the starter before league play begins this year. They will both play until then, and a solid performance against the Nittany Lions could go a long way toward giving Idaho’s coach the confidence to trust that player with the keys to the offense.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF … this remains an interesting game well into the second half. The Vandals do have a pair of elite receivers in Jeff Cotton and Cutrell Haywood, a steady offensive line led by All-America guard Noah Johnson, and they can make the Lions play offense on a long field with All-America Cade Coffey punting.
Also, Penn State this year isn’t likely to look across the line to see anyone bigger than defensive tackles Jonah Kim and Noah Elliss – both legitimate 350-pounders with flat stomachs. A rebuilt linebacking unit, in preseason practice, has looked to mirror last year’s group as a major strength of the defense, even though it will be missing a key starter Saturday in outside linebacker Christian Elliss. And the secondary should be significantly improved. It features a couple of seniors in cornerback Lloyd Hightower and Western Michigan graduate transfer Davontae Ginwright, at free safety.
THE PICK: The Vandals are better than they were last season but are probably not yet ready to pull a storied FCS-FBS upset. Call it 34-21, Penn State.
Peter Harriman, The Spokesman-Review
The stakes are higher in this game for Penn State than for Idaho. The Nittany Lions are expected to control matters with a top flight defense while giving a significantly retooled offense an opportunity to get game experience against an opponent that struggled to go 3-5 in a good FCS league (the Big Sky Conference) last year and 4-7 overall. There is no similar pressure for Idaho. The world anticipates the Vandals are going to step up to the Big Ten and get rolled by 40.
PLAYER(S) ON THE SPOT: Idaho’s quarterback tandem of Mason Petrino and Colton Richardson was inconsistent against lesser competition than Penn State last season. Coach Paul Petrino has steadily maintained he will name one the starter before league play begins this year. They will both play until then, and a solid performance against the Nittany Lions could go a long way toward giving Idaho’s coach the confidence to trust that player with the keys to the offense.
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF … this remains an interesting game well into the second half. The Vandals do have a pair of elite receivers in Jeff Cotton and Cutrell Haywood, a steady offensive line led by All-America guard Noah Johnson, and they can make the Lions play offense on a long field with All-America Cade Coffey punting.
Also, Penn State this year isn’t likely to look across the line to see anyone bigger than defensive tackles Jonah Kim and Noah Elliss – both legitimate 350-pounders with flat stomachs. A rebuilt linebacking unit, in preseason practice, has looked to mirror last year’s group as a major strength of the defense, even though it will be missing a key starter Saturday in outside linebacker Christian Elliss. And the secondary should be significantly improved. It features a couple of seniors in cornerback Lloyd Hightower and Western Michigan graduate transfer Davontae Ginwright, at free safety.
THE PICK: The Vandals are better than they were last season but are probably not yet ready to pull a storied FCS-FBS upset. Call it 34-21, Penn State.
