Penn State football 2017: Predictions for every game

SaQuon Barkley is poised to take home Penn State's first Heisman Trophy since 1973 (Photo creds to The Penn Stater Magazine)

Another Penn State football season is upon us, and it's been a long time since the Nittany Lions came into a new year with such high optimism. Given what this team accomplished in 2016, why wouldn't expectations be high?

As we all should know, the Nittany Lions had a storybook run last season, overcoming a 2-2 start to reel off a nine-game winning streak that climaxed with a thrilling victory over Wisconsin in a Big Ten championship for the ages. For its efforts, Penn State earned a spot in the Rose Bowl where they faced USC.  Although the Lions came out on the short end, it was undoubtedly one of the greatest college football games of this decade, and one that everybody involved should be proud of.

Some key members of Penn State's surprising rise will not be back for the encore. The Lions lost a few players to graduation, such as defensive end Evan Schwan and outside linebacker Brandon Bell. They also lost some talent to the NFL Draft, as defensive end Garrett Sickles and, most notably, wide receiver Chris Godwin both have moved on. Although Penn State is losing talent, they have plenty more coming back.

On offense, quarterback Trace McSorley, who progressed from a question mark at the beginning of 2016 to the best field general in the Big 10 by seasons end, is back for his second season under center. Running back SaQuon Barkley, in case you've been living under a rock, is one of the best players in college football, and is among the favorites to take home the Heisman Trophy in 2017.

On defense, inside linebacker Jason Cabinda and free safety Marcus Allen will lead the way. Both are experienced and are ready to lead the charge as seniors.

As with every season, the Lions have a 12-game slate for 2017, and hopefully, will play two or three extra when all is said and done. This article will reveal what I think will happen in each of the Nittany Lions' regular season contests. I understand that a lot of things change over the course of the season, and I intend to write updated previews for several of these games when they are closer to the date. But for now, here is what I think will transpire, week by week. Let's get into it.


Week One

With all due respect to Terry Bowden and his family, the Zips won't be anything to worry about.

Now it's true that Penn State could come out flat, and even allow Akron to have a lead for a short while. But the Zips are a MAC Program, and a lousy one at that. The Lions will roll over them.

Penn State 34, Akron 10

Week Two

In my 2016 season preview, I did not predict the Pitt game because I felt that the circumstances warranted an entirely separate show. That does not hold true this time around.

For as much as I rag on Pitt, I do think that Pat Narduzzi has the program headed in the right direction. With that said, the Panthers are a team in transition. They are losing key players on both sides of the ball, whether it be by graduation, declaration or suspension, and there celebrated offense will be entering the campaign with a new quarterback and coordinator.

Pitt has a lot of young talent, but I have serious doubts that those players will be ready by week two.  I do think that Pitt's offense could still be potent enough to make some noise against Penn State's suspect defensive unit, but Joe Moorehead's offensive attack will be too hot to handle.

In short, Pitt is a team in transition, while Penn State is gunning for a national championship.

Penn State 45, Pitt 24


Week Three: vs.

No explanation needed.
Penn State 54, Georiga State 7

Week Four: at.

Last season, Penn State demolished Iowa, 41-14. Things won't be as easy this season.
For starters, the game will not be at Beaver Stadium. Instead, the conference opener will happen at a stadium where the Nittany Lions have not had a lot of success over the years.

Knowing how well coached the Hawkeyes are, they won't forget last year's embarrassment. Iowa will be fired up, playing a night game in front of 70,000+ screaming fans. The Hawkeyes are not short on talent either. They have their whole offensive line coming back, along with running back Chris Wormley, as well as seven returning starters on defense. So this will not be a picnic for Penn State.
With that said, Penn State is unquestionably the more talented football team. Although Iowa has potential to win between 8-10 games if all goes well, they are not playoff material. The Nittany Lions very well could be. So while Iowa will push Penn State for a while, I expect the Nittany Lions to pull away in the end, as their talent will be too much.
Penn State 34, Iowa 20

Week Five: vs.

Since Penn State joined the Big 10 in 1993, they've only lost to Indiana once. That will not change.
Indiana does have a respectable offensive attack led by quarterback Richard Lagow, but the team as a whole just is not built to compete with James Franklin's squad.
Although the Nittany Lions' time in the Big 10 has included a lot of ups and downs, one constant has been their continued domination of the Indiana Hoosiers. 2017 will be no exception.
Penn State 45, Indians 17

Week Six: at.

Like Indiana, the Wildcats aren't a team that's known to give Penn State trouble. Unlike the Hoosiers, however, this will not be a cakewalk for Penn State.
Ever since Pat Fitzgerald took over the program,  the Wildcats have consistently been a well-coached team that gets the most out of their talent. If Northwestern can follow that formula again in 2017, don't be surprised to see them in the top 25 at some point in the season. Along with being well disciplined, the Wildcats aren't short on talent, either. 
Running back Justin Jackson might be the best at his position, not named SaQuon Barkley, in the conference. Quarterback Clayton Thorson passed for over 3,000 yards last season. Both of these men will be tough to handle, and this combined with a rocking crowd in Evanson will make Penn State break a sweat.
I see this as one of Penn State's tougher contests in 2017. Northwestern will fight hard, but a late TD pass from Trace McSorley to Saeed Blacknall will put the game away.
Penn State 38, Northwestern 28.

Week 8: vs. Well, this is a big game. As you should recall, Penn State got creamed by the Maize and Blue in Ann Arbor last season, 49-10. Expect quite a different result this time.
When these two teams met last season, Michigan was a national championship contender, while Penn State was still trying to prove itself (and had several injuries on defense.) Now, the Nittany Lions are the more experienced team, as Michigan is losing a lot of talent from last year.
I still expect the Wolverines to have a decent football team, as it's hard to doubt Jim Harbaugh. But it is unlikely that they will beat out Penn State and Ohio State for the Big 10 East crown. The Nittany Lions will remember the embarrassment of last season when they come out to 107,000 strong in Happy Valley, and that will be bad news for Michigan.
Penn State 35, Michigan 20

Week Nine: at

The game of the year not only in the Big 10 but maybe in all of college football. So many implications will be riding on this contest, as the Big 10 East title and a college football playoff spot could well hang in the balance.
Since 1964, the Nittany Lions have beaten the Buckeyes in Columbus one time. That, along with Ohio State surely wanting a measure of revenge for last season, does not bode well for the Nittany Lions. Oh, and the Buckeyes are pretty good, too
I'm expecting solid performances from both offenses. If this week's game at Indiana is any indication, Ohio State's defense could be vulnerable, and that could lead to some big plays from McSorley and company. But the duo of J.T. Barret and Mike Weber is pretty hard to beat. Add the fact that the game is in the horseshoe, and things will be difficult for the Nittany Lions. As much as I hope I'm wrong, I think the home field advantage gives the Buckeyes the edge in a close one.
Ohio State 29, Penn State 24

Week Ten: at.

Although I don't expect Sparty to go 3-9 again, 2017 will be another frustrating season in East Lansing. The Spartans return just 11 of 22 starters from last season.
Although Michigan State has fallen on hard times toward the second half of the 2010s', it's still hard to look at a game in Sparta and see it as a cakewalk. But while I'm sure Mark Dantiono will have his troops ready, they just are not good enough to take down a side like Penn State. Sparty might keep it close for a quarter or two, but the Nittany Lions will pull away, in the end, to take home their second straight Land Grand trophy.
Penn State 40, Michigan State 17

Week 11: vs.

Ha.
Penn State 53, Rutgers 7

Week 12: vs.
If this game were in Lincoln and not State College, this would be one of Penn State's three toughest games. Luckily, it is in Happy Valley, and also falls on senior day at Beaver Stadium.
Similar to Pitt, Nebraska is a decent power five program that will have ten wins at best, seven at worst. That's all well and good, but is it enough to beat this Penn State team in its backyard? I think not. Cabinda, Allen, Gesicki and others have accomplished too much at Beaver Stadium to go out with anything but a bang.
Penn State 34, Nebraska 17

Week 13: at

I might well be at this game. In my life, I am 13-2 when attending Penn State football games. That is all.
Penn State 48, Maryland 14

So there you have it, 11-1. Will this be enough to get Penn State into the College Football playoff? Sadly, I think losing the Big Ten east to Ohio State will be a fatal blow to those hopes. Nonetheless, I'm still expecting a successful season that will end with a trip to Pasadena (assuming Ohio State wins the conference title game and makes the playoff, leaving the Rose Bowl open for Penn State.) Hopefully, they'll win "The Granddaddy of Them All" this time.