Penn State-Washington: 3 Keys to victory

Photo creds to The Daily Collegian, Penn State

By: Joe Smeltzer
Hello all. For the first time since 1997, Penn State is in the Fiesta Bowl. They are facing a worthy foe in the Washington Huskies, who like Penn State, could have found themselves in the college football playoff with a little more bounces in their direction. Nonetheless, both teams are here, and should make for an exciting matchup. Here are three things Penn State can do to give James Franklin his second bowl win since taking over as head coach.



Key #1: Be prepared to throw

Photo creds to Madison.com

As good as Saquon Barkley is, anybody who watches Penn State has seen how much he struggles when the line doesn't block for him.  Considering that Washington's defense allows just 2.6 yards per carry and its front features the 6'5, 340 pound Vita Vea, I wouldn't expect a 200-yard outburst from number 26. If Barkley can't find room to run, it's up to the passing game to step it up.

Luckily, the Nittany Lions have shown that when an opposing team is focusing on Barkley, the offense can still have success. If the opposing defense is worried about Saquon,  Trace McSorley can take advantage of that, and find Mike Gesicki, DaeSean Hamilton or even Barkley himself to move the football.

Penn State's offense isn't a one-man band, and it is capable of scoring points with or without an effective run game.


Key #2: Limit the deep ball

Photo creds to the Spokesman-Review

Jake Browning might be the best quarterback Penn State has faced all year, and his best receiver, Dante Pettis, is a speedy, deep ball threat. So Browning has a lot of success when throwing it deep to his main man. If the Penn State secondary can limit the big play, the chances of taming Browing and, thus, the Washington offense, will be enhanced, especially if Browning's second favorite target, freshman tight end Hunter Bryant, isn't able to play.

Pettis can burn Penn State if they are not careful, not only on offense but also on special teams, where he has scored four touchdowns on special teams this season.

Key #3: Control Myles Gaskin

Photo creds to Everett Harold

Barkley isn't the only elite running back playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Gaskin is a stud, averaging over six yards a carry on the ground. With John Ross now in the NFL, the Huskies pass game isn't what it was in 2016. Therefore, Gaskin means more to this offense this season than he did a year ago. If Penn State can limit Gaskin from breaking off a super big run, which he is very capable of doing, then it will be hard for the Huskies passing game- in which Pettis is the only player with over 500 yards receiving- to carry the load. If Gaskin rushes for less than 100 yards, I feel pretty good about Penn State's chances today.

Final prediction 
I expect both run defenses to hold their own against elite backs. If that happens, I think the winner of this game comes down to which quarterback has a better day. While I'm not sure Trace McSorley is better than Jake Browning, I am confident that he has better receiving options around him. The Washington offense just isn't the same without John Ross, and while you could say the same about Penn State without Chris Godwin, I would take Hamilton, Gesicki, Barkley and Juwan Johnson over Dante Pettis and really nobody else. The depth that Penn State has in the passing game will be the difference today, and the Nittany Lions will close out their second consecutive 11-win season.