Five takeaways from Steelers-Ravens

By: Donny Chedrick
This past Sunday’s 26-9 win over the Ravens was the first time since 2012 that the Steelers earned a victory in Baltimore. With the win, Pittsburgh took sole possession of first place in the AFC North at 3-1 and have a chance to sweep the Ravens December 10 for the first time since 2008 - the same season the Steelers would eventually win its sixth Lombardi Trophy. Sunday was one of the more convincing performances in Baltimore in recent memory and before the Steelers come back home to meet the Jaguars, we'll dive into five things from the win at M&T Bank Stadium.

1.    Most complete game

Photo creds to Pittsburgh Post Gazette

The 26-9 victory was without a doubt the best the Steelers have looked this season. Pittsburgh controlled the clock for over 35 minutes, forcing three turnovers, outgaining the Ravens by nearly 100 yards and holding them to 73 yards on the ground. The Steelers made timely plays on defense and the offense looked better than it did in the first month of the season, largely because one player finally got going.

2.    Le'Veon Bell is back

Photo creds to ESPN.Com

It took until the first day of October, but “Juice” finally got loose. Bell had his breakout game Sunday, and hopefully that type of play is here to stay. Bell ran the  ball 35 times while collecting 144 yards and two touchdowns. He was a factor in the receiving game as well for the first time this season with four receptions for 42 yards. The best part for the Steelers was that he looked like Lev Bell for the first time all year. He was patient and hit the holes the best he has all year. He was arguably the biggest impact player on the field Sunday, especially for the offense.

3.    Turnaround in the trenches

Photo creds to Ebony Bird

After what the Steelers went through in Chicago, the offensive and defensive lines took it upon themselves to make a statement in Baltimore. The Ravens were held to under 100 yards on the ground and the Steelers sacked Joe Flacco four times. If Pittsburgh carrier this type of play in the trenches into the coming weeks, it could become a  scary team to face.

4.    Mike Hilton

Photo creds to Steelers Store

He was one of the best stories coming through training camp and became a crowd favorite. Sunday, Hilton recorded his best performance in black and gold. Hilton collected four tackles, which didn't lead the team, but he made impacts elsewhere. Hilton snagged his first career sack when he took down Flacco in the third quarter, then later picked off Flacco to help seal the game. Having Hilton play with this hungry attitude will be huge for the Steelers' depth later on in the season if injuries form in the defensive backfield.

  

5. Antonio Brown's outburst

Possibly the only negative to Sunday's game came when AB decided to show his dissatisfaction after Ben Roethlisberger avoided him on a pass downfield when he was open. Brown threw a Gatorade cooler and made a big scene on the sideline, to sum up a frustrating four-catch, 34-yard performance. Ben later came out to say that Brown has been more of a distraction to the team than he realizes and the leaders will need to come together to calm things down in what so far has been a pretty fine opening to the season for the Steelers.


The Steelers return home this Sunday to take on the AFC South- leading Jacksonville Jaguars. With a win, the Steelers would improve to 4-1 and continue to hold sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

NFL Week 4 preview/predictions

Credit to Bradley W. Stewart for the graphic

By: Joe Smeltzer Hello all. The boys are back for another week of NFL picks. So far, my cousin Jeff leads the pack at 22-10, while I, Joseph Arthur Smeltzer, am 19-13. Will I catch up to him and retake the lead? Probably. I tend to win a lot, after all. But enough about my family. Let's talk some football.

Will the Bills screw me again?
Buffalo (2-1) at Atlanta (3-0)
Line: ATL -8.0

Photo creds to Sports Illustrated

Two weeks ago, I picked the Bills to upset the Carolina Panthers. That did not work out. Last week, I picked the Denver Broncos to do what they were supposed to do and hand Buffalo its second straight loss. That did not work out. So it seems as if the Bills like to do the opposite of what I expect them to do. This week, however, I expect Buffalo to run into a buzzsaw.

Atlanta may well be the best team in the NFC and has shown why thus far. Buffalo, on the other hand, is an up-and-coming franchise with a lot of question marks, and as well as Tyrod Taylor has played, we still don't know how far the Bills field general can take this team. If Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense can take care of the football better than it did last week at Detroit, where Atlanta turned the ball over three times, this might not even be close.

Falcons 33, Bills 14

We care because of geography
Cincinatti (0-3) at Cleveland (0-3)
Line: Cin -3.0

The only reason that this isn't my "who the hell cares?" game of the week is because both teams are in the AFC North.

Both the Clowns and the Bungles stink, but because the Bengals played tough at Lambeau Field last week and because, well, they aren't the Browns, I'll cautiously take Cincy in this one. Don't expect to see either of these teams playing meaningful games in December, however.

Bungles 24, Clowns 18

Possible upset
LA Rams (2-1) at Dallas (2-1)
Line: Dal -6.5

The matchup to watch in this game will be the Rams offensive line vs. the Cowboys defensive line.

Although Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot and the Cowboys offense get most of the attention, the Cowboys front seven, led by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, is extremely talented, and for Jared Goff to have any success, the Rams have to win the battle up front.

Although Dallas doesn't have a good secondary, which could allow for Goff to make some big plays, I think that the Cowboys front will get enough pressure on Goff to not let him have a big day. If Goff and Todd Gurley aren't at their best, the Rams will not win. Because of the Dallas defensive line, I don't think that will happen.

These cities never won a Super Bowl
Detroit (2-1) at Minnesota (2-1)
Line: Min -2.5

Photo creds to National Geographic

The Vikings are growing on me.

Last week, Minnesota's 34-17 win over Tampa Bay caught me off guard. This has the potential to be a solid football team. Detroit, on the other hand, has a lot of problems. I have faith in Case Keenum to exploit a suspect Lions secondary, and in Dalvin Cook to continue to be among the NFL's top rookies.

Vikings 33, Lions 15

Will the Patroits lose?
No.

Jacksonville (2-1) at NYJ (1-2)
Yes, the Jags are 2-1. But does anybody expect them to make a big splash this season? I sure don't. The Jets, on the other hand, are the Jets. Yeah, I am not hyped about this game



Bring back the Oilers
Tennesse (2-1) at Houston (1-2) 
Line: Ten -2.0

Photo creds to the gruling truth

Last week, Minnesota's 34-17 win over Tampa Bay caught me off guard. This has the potential to be a solid football team. Detroit, on the other hand, has a lot of problems. I have faith in Case Keenum to exploit a suspect Lions secondary, and in Dalvin Cook to continue to be among the NFL's top rookies.

I am the only one of our group that's giving the Texans love. Yes, Tennesse is a good football team. But because Houston is at home, and because of how good it looked in Foxborough last Sunday, I have more faith in them than I initially thought. I think DeShaun Watson's breakout is coming soon,  and that day just might be today.
Texans 27, Titans 17

Closer than you think
Philadelphia (2-1) at LA Chargers (0-3)
Line: LAC -2.5

Photo creds to FillmCow.com

Yes, Fletcher Cox is out, and Jordan Hicks is banged up as well. But the Chargers are a team that loves to break their fans hearts. They will do that once again Sunday. The Eagles have a shot to get to the postseason, and I have a gut feeling that they will march towards that goal with a close win on the West Coast, with another Jake Elliot field goal.

Eagles 23, Chargers 20


Game of the Week
Oakland (2-1) at Denver (2-1)
Line: Den -3.0

Although I picked Oakland to win this game, I am a little surprised that four of the five people on our panel did the same. The Raiders are going into a tough environment, playing a good team and coming off an embarrassing performance last week. I think that Oakland has a shot to win the AFC, while the Broncos still have questions to be answered, particularly at quarterback. I think that Trevor Siemian will struggle and this Raiders defense will force a key turnover late in the game to seal the deal. As for the Raiders offense, well, they are pretty good, and Derek Carr will show off.

Oakland 30, Denver 20


Sunday Night
Colts (1-2) at Seahawks (1-2)
Seattle is favored by 13.5 points. That is because the Colts aren't very good. The Seahawks are good, and they are playing at home. Boom.

Seahawks 34, Colts 17

Monday Night
Redskins (2-1) at Chiefs (3-0)
Line: KC -7.0
Yes Washington has looked good this season. But come on now. The Redskins getting a win in a night game at Arrowhead stadium? Not a chance.

Chiefs 35, Redskins 21


Other Games
Saints 33, Dolphins 10
Arizona 34, San Fran 24
New York 20, Tampa Bay 13

Steelers-Ravens: Three keys to victory

Hello, all. It's Steelers-Ravens. It's a rivalry game that the Steelers need to win, especially coming off 

a crap effort at Soldier Field. Here is what Pittsburgh can do to ensure a W over its most hated foe.

Photo creds to Russel Sheet Report 

1. Pressure Joe Flacco

For a professional football team to lose to another professional football team, 44-7, a lot of things have to go wrong.

One of the many issues that plagued Baltimore last Sunday was the Jaguars ability to rush Joe Flacco. So far this season, Flacco is by far the worst quarterback in the league when under pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, his passer rating is just 7.9 against the rush, which is horrific.

Although Flacco has not played well this season, he is still by far the best quarterback the Steelers will face to this point, and for the Steelers to pick up the win Sunday, it essential to not let him be a factor. An excellent way to do that would be for this defensive line- which features a returning Stephon Tuitt, to not give Flacco enough time to do his job.

#2: Win the battle in the trenches

Photo creds to CBS Pittsburgh

Last week, Marcus Gilbert was dearly missed.

The Steelers right tackle, who has evolved into one of the best in the NFL, was out with a hamstring injury in that awful loss to the  Bears, and that is a big reason why the Steelers lost the battle up front. Gilbert is listed as questionable for this Sunday, and his status could make a huge difference in how the offense performs.

Whether Gilbert or Chris Hubbard starts at offensive tackle, the Steelers need to improve up front to come away with a win tomorrow. As my buddy Donny pointed out in his breakdown of last week's game, the trenches are a huge part of what happens in a football game. Hopefully, the big uglys will step up Sunday. If not, Big Ben could hit the canvas quite a bit courtesy of the Dirty Birds.


#3: Le'Veon Bell. 

Shocker: A piece about the Steelers has Le'Veon Bell's name in it. I know we are tired of talking about number 26, but he is the second most important player on this offense.

Pittsburgh has lost its last two games in Baltimore, and lack of offensive power was a huge cause for both of those debacles. In 2015, Bell was injured. Last year, Bell rushed for just 32 yards. Given how important Bell is to this team, how underwhelming he's been this season and how little he has contributed at M&T Bank stadium recently, it's safe to say that how loose "juice" is will go a long way in determining what happens Sunday afternoon.



Prediction
Before the season, I thought that the Steelers would split with the Ravens, with the loss coming in Baltimore. But after doing some thinking, I decided that, while Mike Tomlin's history against lesser teams is well documented, I don't see the Steelers playing down to their competition two weeks in a row. It's a rivalry game, Pittsburgh needs a win and they are the better team. I think that last Sunday's fiasco in the Windy City will be a wakeup call, and the Steelers will respond. The Dirty Birds will keep it close, as they always do, but Ben Roethlisberger will make more big plays than Joe Flacco, Le'Veon Bell will get his act together, and the Steelers will get the W.

Steelers 24, Ravens 17

The struggle of balancing sports and rational thought

Penn State's Juwan Johnson celebrates after winng score against Iowa. (Photo creds to Chiacgo Tribune.)

Sometimes, it takes awhile to learn a lesson.

This past January, I watched one of the greatest football games in recent memory. It had all the ingredients of a classic; two storied programs, an intriguing backstory, and a back-and-forth battle that took until the final play of the contest to decide. To top it all off, the platform for this epic could not have been greater, as it was the 2017 Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, because my favorite team was participating, I could not enjoy it the way I appreciated the national championship game just a week later.

Shortly after Penn State's 52-49 loss to USC, I wrote an article talking about how, sometimes, we lose our minds as sports fans.   As any hardcore fan knows, there are moments throughout a year where we throw rational thought out the window and snap when watching our favorite teams. It's hard to explain to those who don't share our passion, but it happens. I had one of those moments watching the Rose Bowl, and I didn't take long for me to realize that what I saw went beyond just winning and losing. It was a game that reminded me why I am a fan, and I couldn't be mad at that forever.

I hoped that this game would serve as a learning experience, teaching me to, as the title of my post said, "enjoy it for what it is." This Saturday, I learned that this phrase is much easier said than done.

Fast forward eight months and three weeks. The 2017 Penn State Nittany Lions are facing their first test of the season in Iowa City. Although the Nittany Lions have dominated the whole game, the Iowa Hawkeyes did not break, and eventually, took a 19-15 lead with less than two minutes left.

Now, I had been pissed off the whole game. Penn State was the better team, but could not pull away, and I was quite annoyed. When Iowa took the lead, that was my breaking point. Although I can't share the words I was saying in my house at this time, I will say that I'm glad I wasn't in public.

When Trace McSorley hit Juwan Johnson on a post pattern for a seven-yard touchdown as time expired, one would think that my mood changed entirely. That's not true. While I was ecstatic that Penn State won the game and kept its national title hopes alive, I felt a little odd about celebrating.

On the inside, I was thrilled.  I got to watch a classic football game, and unlike the Rose Bowl, my favorite team came out on top. At the same time, however, I knew that just moments earlier, I had been using some of the most vulgar language imaginable when things weren't going well. Would it have been wrong for me to turn around and be all giddy now because the Nittany Lions pulled out the win?

Initially, I did not know what to do. I was not sure if my lack of reaction was due to a state of shock, or if I had realized how irrational I had been throughout the night. I think it was a combination of both. For the next hour or so, I had a hard time coming to terms with how I acted, and I must have apologized to my mother about a half a dozen times.

Eventually, I came to my senses. I accepted what had happened, and knew that I could use it as a learning experience. Now that I had cooled down, I could reflect on the game itself, and how remarkable those last two minutes were. But still, I felt awful about my meltdown earlier in the night.

These type of moments remind me how beautiful sports writing can be. Because of this blog, I had an opportunity to take my flaws as a sports fan and turn them into a column for all to see. If not for writing, it would be a lot harder to express what I go through as a die-hard sports fan, and I'm thankful that I have a platform to do that.

I know I take "silly little games" too seriously. I know I'm not alone in that regard, and I know trying to contain my emotions will not be easy. But I ask myself and other fanatics to try to refrain from losing our minds when our favorite team is playing, especially before the game is over. There will be times when we yell at the TV, but it can't hurt for us to least try and contain our anger before we have a meltdown. To my fellow sports fans, I ask you to keep in mind that just when you start to dismiss your favorite team, they could light up your world at any given moment. That's why we are fans.

5 Things from Steelers-Bears

By: Donny Chedrick

The Steelers 23-17 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears was a classic case of a Mike Tomlin team playing down to an underachieving opponent. It what was a very interesting Sunday in the NFL full of upsets and kneel downs that didn't celebrate a victory. It wasn't pretty and it sets up a Week 4 showdown between the Steelers and Ravens in Baltimore with first place in the AFC North on the line. But before we get to that, let's take a look at five things from the loss in Chicago.

1. Alejandro Villanueva stands alone:

Photo creds to PennLive.com

Given what happened over the past weekend with President Donald Trump calling out NFL owners and players, as well as those in other major professional sports, it made kneeling for the National Anthem more prominent than ever as several players and owners from around the league did a different representation of themselves during the Star Spangled Banner. The Steelers decided to not be present for the National Anthem by staying in the locker room and standing in the tunnel. However, one Steeler stood out on the field alone - former Army Ranger and starting left tackle, Alejandro Villanueva. Because of this, Villanueva personally feels as if he embarrassed his teammates, but he was a symbol to Americans that still wanted to stand for the National Anthem. Whatever your stance is, it doesn't matter. Alejandro Villanueva is an American hero.

2. Marcus Gilbert was missed

Photo creds to Behind the Steel Curtain

Moving to the other offensive tackle, and what proved to be one of the biggest injuries of the young season was Marcus Gilbert missing this game. After the first two weeks of the regular season, Gilbert was arguably the most underrated player on the Steelers' roster, especially considering his rating from Pro Football Focus. The absence of Gilbert in Chicago proved apparent due to the lackluster performance from Chris Hubbard. Hubbard's struggles in the run game and in pass protection caused issues all afternoon for the Steelers on offense, but the trenches were not a friendly place to the Steelers this past weekend.

3. Got dominated in the trenches:

Photo creds to ESPN.com

I know that Stephon Tuitt was out again, but the defensive line doesn't get out of this conversation given the awful performance  Sunday afternoon. Quite frankly the run defense, in general, deserves to get punished after what fans witnessed in Chicago. The Bears rushed for 220 yards including just waltzing down the field in overtime. Chicago had nine runs that went for 10 yards or more and had four runs go for nearly 20 a pop with some being longer. The defensive effort was poor against the run considering Bears' QB Mike Glennon barely threw for 100 yards. Tackling needs to be addressed and figured out with a hard-hitting game against Baltimore coming up Sunday.

4. Lev Bell is almost out of time:

Photo creds to SB Nation 

Three games into the year and I'm saying that RB Le'Veon Bell is out of time might not make sense, but considering all of his antics over the course of the off-season, the pressure seems to be getting to his head. For the third consecutive, Bell has struggled to find his holes like he did so well last season. He looks out of sync, and he is often found trying to force himself into big runs but ends up running into the back of his linemen or his fullback. Bell broke several big runs last season, and I'mnot t say those won't come, but he had just one run of 13 yards being his longest of the afternoon against the Bears. Emerging more in the run game will make things easier for Ben Roethlisberger and help get this offense in motion.

Photo creds to SFgate

5. Vance McDonald and Jordan Berry deserve praise:In what was a play that every player on the field for the Steelers could have given up on, there were two guys that never gave up on a blocked Chris Boswell field goal at the end of the first half. You can say that Marcus Cooper gave up too early on a play that looked like an easy TD for Chicago heading into the locker room, but Vance McDonald and Jordan Berry did everything they could to make sure that would not happen. The Steelers didn't win the game, but the hustle that McDonald and Berry displayed on that play speaks volumes of their effort, and it is a play every football coach out there should show to their team.

It was an ugly Sunday for the Steelers, but a bounce back is needed and fast as the Steelers head to Baltimore for a clash that will decide the leader in the AFC North. After both teams suffered embarrassing losses in Week 3, they will look forward to an old-time battle on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

NFL Week 3 Preview/Predictions

Credit to Brad W. Stewart for the graphic

By: Joe Smeltzer

Hello, all. Last week was a good week for the boys. As you can see above, all four of us won at least ten of our games, with Jeffery Stewart posing a fantastic record of 15-1. All four of us are off to a winning start in week three. Hopefully, I continue my winning was, while the others fall off.



1:00
Another bad matchup in the U.K.
Ravens (2-0) at Jaguares (1-1)
Line: Bal -3.0

Photo creds to Orioles Uncensored 

The NFL routinely puts teams like Jacksonville abroad. As with most international games, this won't be anything to write home about. The Jags stink, the Ravens are a playoff contender and I don't see Jacksonville's putrid offense getting much done against the dirty birds.

Ravens 24, Jags 10

Won't get fooled again 
Broncos (2-0) at Bills (1-1)
Line: Den -3.0

Photo creds to www.history.com

Last week, I picked the Bills to upset the Carolina Panthers. Buffalo let me down, scoring three lousy points and losing the game. This week, they are once again the underdog, this time playing at home.

With my luck, the Bills will pull an upset this week now that they do not have my support. All joking aside, I don't see Trevor Siemian, Von Miller and the white-hot Denver Broncos slowing down.

Broncos 27, Bills 10

How will my stillers do this week?
Stillers (2-0) at Bears (0-2)
Line: Steelers -7.5

Mike Tomlin-coached teams are known to play down to their competition. Over the years, the Steelers have lost many games that looked impossible to lose. I do not see that happening today.

The Steelers may come out flat, and that could allow Mike Glennon and the Bears to keep things respectable. But Chicago is a bad, borderline terrible football team. I know that hasn't stopped the Steelers from choking in the past, but I think this Steelers team is too good to let  Glennon win the game, or not score more than three touchdowns on this Bears defense that got wrecked in Tampa last week. I could be wrong, but I don't see the Steelers falling into a classic Tomlin trap today.

Stillers 24, Bears 13

Won't get fooled again Part II
Saints (0-2) at Panthers (2-0)
Line: Car -5.5

As mentioned above, I had Carolina falling to Buffalo last week, and it did not work out. I've learned my lesson. The Panthers are gunning for a wide-open NFC South division title, and I don't think New Orleans and its crappy D can slow down Cammy Cam and the boys.

Panthers 34, Saints 16

Mike Tomlin used to coach both these teams 
Bucs (1-0) at Vikings (1-1)
Line: TB -2.5

Photo creds to TBO.Com

Once again, Case Keenum is the starting QB for Minnesota. Like last week in Pittsburgh, I expect the Vikings offense to struggle mainly because of that. What this game comes down to is the battle of field generals, and Jameis Winston is much better than Keenum. Winston is a stud, and having Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson to throw to doesn't hurt, either.

By God, the Browns might win a game
Browns (0-2) at Colts (0-2)
Line: Cle -1.5

Photo creds to Gambling 911

Normally, this would be a perfect candidate for my "who the hell cares?" game of the week. But this one is interesting, as the Clevland Browns not only have an outside chance to win a football game; they have a damn good one.
The Colts are pathetic without Andrew Luck, and I think anybody who has watched this team over the past year knows that. The Browns, on the other hand, are on the rise. That is not a joke. Cleveland is strong defensively, and that could cause problems for Jacoby Brissett while facing a backup QB is a big opportunity for DeShone Kizer to get his first win. The Browns still stink, but the Colts stink a little more.


Browns 17, Colts 14

Who the Hell Cares?
Dolphins at Jets

When two AFC East teams that aren't the New England Patriots play each other, there's a good chance that this honor is bestowed upon that game. Yikes.
Dolphins 20, Jets 13

Will the Patriots lose?
No

Rivalry Game 
GIants (0-2) at Eagles (1-1)
Line: PHI -6.0

New York looked terrible in both of its games thus far, while the Eagles are a respectable 1-1, with a tough loss at Kansas City last week. Philly's strong defense does not bode well for a sputtering Giants attack, and I think the offensive line; as described in the rant above, will have problems with Fletcher Cox and a solid Eagles defensive front. The Giants defense will come to play, as usual, but Eli Manning just won't have enough to get the job done, even with a healthy OBJ


Eagles 20, Giants 10



Other games
Chargers 24, Chiefs 21
Packers 31, Bengals 7
Raiders 34, Redskins 17

Cowboys 31, Cardinals 24

Penn State-Iowa: Three Keys to Victory

Hello, all. It is week four of the 2017 Penn State football season, but considering that this is the first true test the Nittany Lions have faced all year, and the Big 10 opener, one could argue that it is week one. Tonight, Penn State will try to hold off upset-minded Iowa in a brutal road enviornment. Here are three keys that they need to execute to do that.
Key #1: Time of possession

Photo creds to Land of 10.

As good as Penn State's offense has been this year, it has not been dominant as far as holding the football goes. Against Pitt, the Nittany Lions only held the ball for 21:40 while the Panthers had it for 38:20. Against Georiga State last week, the Panthers held the ball for 38:47.
It is true that a big reason for this is that Penn State scores a lot, sometimes quickly. But this is the first decent offense the Nittany Lions have faced all year. If Penn State doesn't hold the ball long, it could allow the Hawkeyes to mount long drives, and keep the ball out of Trace McSorley's hands. While that was all well and good the past two weeks, it might not fly tonight.

Key #2: Bend, but don't suck (but don't bend to begin with)

Penn State's defense has allowed a total of 14 points in three games. If you look past those numbers, however, the defense has had its problems in the first few weeks. A perfect example of this is last Saturday.
Although the Nittany Lions shut out Georiga State, the Panthers had more first downs (21-19) and put up 320 yards of offense, which is a decent amount for a team that scored 0 points. Penn State better be careful not to let Iowa move the ball because unlike Georiga State, the Hawkeyes just might convert those chances. If Iowa gets the ball in the red zone, the defense must hold strong. As former defensive coordinator Tom Bradley used to say; Bend, but don't suck. It would help my heart rate, however, if the defense didn't bend, either.


Key #3: Start fast

Photo creds to Sheraton Iowa City Hotel

There is no question that Iowa will be fired up tonight. This game is in prime time, played in front of an electric home crowd, and Kirk Ferentz remembers last years massacre in Happy Valley. The best time for Iowa to get things going against Penn State will be in the first quarter when the adrenaline is highest. If the Hawkeyes can't outplay the Nittany Lions in the first 15 minutes, it will be hard for them to do so for the next 45. If Penn State can handle the initial adrenaline, I think they have the edge for the rest of the night. If not, we will be in for a fight.

Final Prediction
Considering that the Iowa Hawkeyes caused two of my five worst nights as a Penn State fan; well, from an on-field standpoint anyway, I am always nervous for a game at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa is always a well-coached team that gets the most out of its talent, and the Hawkeyes are a tough out for anybody in the Big 10, especially at home.

With that said, this Penn State team is too talented, in my opinion, to slip this early. The Hawkeyes have not looked impressive these first few weeks, as they've struggled with North Texas and Iowa State. I think Iowa will be a decent team in the Big 10 West, but there's nothing that makes me believe that it will ruin Penn State's dream season before it starts.

It's time once and for all that we vanquish the nightmares of 2008 and 2009. Blowing out Iowa at Kinnick in 2012 was awesome. Last years party was fantastic. But tonight, coming in as a top-five team, with most of the nation hoping for an upset, and beating the Hawkeyes, would signify that the days of Ferentz having Penn State's number are over.

Penn State 30, Iowa 17