T1B

Well, I suppose that was one way to get this otherwise useless OOC cupcake game on national TV.



Two observations, right off the bat...

No sellout? Really? All we've been hearing is how the place would be packed to the rafters for this one, and yet the wide shots show an awful lot of empty seats in the main upper deck.

That was surprising, but not as surprising as seeing Penn St drop a 250 lb linebacker on the goal line to receive the opening kick. What the hell was that? They have to have more speed than that somewhere on their roster, don't they?

Anyway, I saw this 'in-depth' discussion regarding the question of whether Penn St will even win five games this year.

C'mon...

Ohio (W)
@Virginia (W)
Navy (W)
Temple (W) (With a pastries-rich OOC slate like this, they're nearly guaranteed four wins before they even begin conference play.)
@Illinois (L) (Debatable.)
Northwestern (W)
@Iowa (L)
Ohio St (L)
@Purdue (L) (Very debatable.)
@Nebraska (L)
Indiana (W)
Wisconsin (L)

So, as long as they beat Virginia they can lose the iffy ones and still win six games.

If the over under was at 5 , ill take the under.

I don't think they'll beat Northwestern...certainly not a gimme, at least. Today is not a gimme either. PSU was pretty anemic on offense last year, and that was when their whole team was still in tact. Virginia? Not sure about that one. If UVA is supposed to be even respectable this year, then home field will give them an edge.

Northwestern has no Dan Persa this time, and they have to travel to Happy Valley. At worst, that's another debatable one.

Moby, you'd bet on Penn St to win only four games this year? So, you're counting on them pulling zero upsets while losing every iffy game, in addition to losing one or two they really should win? Absolutely nothing will break their way this season? Ohio, Navy, Temple, Indiana, and that'll be it?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Virginia? Not sure about that one. If UVA is supposed to be even respectable this year, then home field will give them an edge.

UVA is pretty good. Still a bit soft, but good nonetheless.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:I don't think they'll beat Northwestern...certainly not a gimme, at least. Today is not a gimme either. PSU was pretty anemic on offense last year, and that was when their whole team was still in tact. Virginia? Not sure about that one. If UVA is supposed to be even respectable this year, then home field will give them an edge.

Completely new offense for PSU...as opposed to no offense whatsoever. Can't help but be an improvement.

Van wrote:Northwestern has no Dan Persa this time, and they have to travel to Happy Valley. At worst, that's another debatable one.

They've had the same quarterback for the last 12 years, and Kain Colter is no exception. He's the mulatto Dan Persa.

But yeah, it's at least debatable. Northwestern is just one of those teams that's a thorn in the side of many. They're never a legitimate contender, but capable of beating anyone in conference on any given day (sup, Nebraska?). Every conference has a team like that. I don't know who that team would be in the Pac 12. Oregon State? Cal?

Hodges at returner is asinine.

PSUFAN wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:I don't think they'll beat Northwestern...certainly not a gimme, at least. Today is not a gimme either. PSU was pretty anemic on offense last year, and that was when their whole team was still in tact. Virginia? Not sure about that one. If UVA is supposed to be even respectable this year, then home field will give them an edge.

Completely new offense for PSU...as opposed to no offense whatsoever. Can't help but be an improvement.

I suppose that's true. The d still appears to be pretty legit.

Van, they always load up the student sections slowly...the empty seats are there at first for every game. This is a long-standing discussion on the PSU homer boards.

Passing game looks very crisp. Receivers getting the ball quickly and in space with room to run.

PSUFAN wrote:Van, they always load up the student sections slowly...the empty seats are there at first for every game. This is a long-standing discussion on the PSU homer boards.

What is the issue? Patting them down for firearms?

During the 1992 Miami game, a student brought in a military-grade smoke bomb and set it off in the student section. Ever since they have been letting students in single file and with lots of security

There's a section in the south end that is reserved for the Blue Band...currently empty as they rove around the stadium

PSUFAN wrote:Passing game looks very crisp. Receivers getting the ball quickly and in space with room to run.

Yeah, I’m digging this new offense too. McGloin looks so much more comfortable in this style of offense, for whatever reason.

Screw_Michigan wrote:

PSUFAN wrote:Van, they always load up the student sections slowly...the empty seats are there at first for every game. This is a long-standing discussion on the PSU homer boards.

What is the issue? Patting them down for firearms personal lubricants?

Van wrote:

Screw_Michigan wrote:

PSUFAN wrote:Van, they always load up the student sections slowly...the empty seats are there at first for every game. This is a long-standing discussion on the PSU homer boards.

What is the issue? Patting them down for firearms personal lubricants?

Naw, shower gel.

Ken wrote:

PSUFAN wrote:Passing game looks very crisp. Receivers getting the ball quickly and in space with room to run.

Yeah, I’m digging this new offense too. McGloin looks so much more comfortable in this style of offense, for whatever reason.

For one, it IS a style of offense.

Another thing sticking out for me - OL seems much stronger thanks to the new strength and conditioning program. Past 5 years, the running game has struggled to get going early in seasons because the OL was a bunch of marshmallows with bristles. Now, they are lifting weights...and it shows.

Definitely agree on that too. Guess my only gripes to this point are:
1. Hodges on returns, but I don’t expect that to last (I believe it has already ended with Belton on the last punt).
2. Not much pressure up the middle from the D-line.

Yep...not perfect but very good. Ohio is a very good offensive football team...but i think the third quarter, they will fade some.

Not cool, Penn St...not cool at all. You fucks better cover that 6.5 spread.

Penn State's offense looks better than I thought they would two months ago. The coach seems like a good hire. The defense looks like I thought they would.


As far as wins and losses this year... I'll need to see a bigger sampling then just a home game against Ohio.


Anyways, here was my prediction for Penn State a couple of months ago.

M2 wrote:I could see Penn State losing 9 games this year...




2012 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule



September 1... Ohio U
September 8... Virginia Away
September 15... Navy
September 22... Temple
September 29... Illinois Away
October 6... Northwestern
October 13... Open
October 20... Iowa Away
October 27... Ohio State
November 3... Purdue Away
November 10... Nebraska Away
November 17... Indiana
November 24... Wisconsin




Sure losses...Wisconsin, Nebraska away, Purdue away, Iowa away and Ohio State

Probable losses...Illinois away, Virginia away

Likely wins...Ohio U and Temple

Toss up...Northwestern and Navy


Sure losses plus probable losses plus toss ups indicates 2 wins and 9 losses or maybe 3 wins and 8 losses.


After this seasons disaster... I could see the current players and commits leaving like flies in a stiff wind

Can't believe we're wearing Penn State uni's for our first game at home after the renovation...









ugh

If 5 games is a push , Van...id def go with the under..

yeah, those are exactly the same as PSU. what PR nightmare. good work sniffing that one out m2. u should get on the phone right now and call up Cal's PR team.

King Crimson wrote:yeah, those are exactly the same as PSU. what PR nightmare. good work sniffing that one out m2. u should get on the phone right now and call up Cal's PR team.

Sarcasm is lost on you...

Okay, Penn St, now you're really starting to piss me off.

M2 wrote:

King Crimson wrote:yeah, those are exactly the same as PSU. what PR nightmare. good work sniffing that one out m2. u should get on the phone right now and call up Cal's PR team.

Sarcasm is lost on you...

you are absolutely correct.

And Ohio takes the lead...

Calm down, Brady Hoke. The REAL Ohio.

Does the team in blue plan on throwing any passes beyond the line of scrimmage this half?

Van wrote:Does the team in blue plan on throwing any passes beyond the line of scrimmage this half?

176 yds in first half ain’t all that bad. Shorter pass plays were working quite nicely.
Anyways, McGloin is not a very good long passer. Couple that with the fact that they simply do not have a deep threat at WR and there you have it.

this game got more hype than I would expect two teams ranked somewhere in the 70s would warrant.

this game got more hype than two teams in the top 10.



College GameDay quickly reminded me why that show frustrates.

Ken, I don't necessarily mean long passes, but how about something that goes beyond the line of scrimmage? With the corners face-guarding the receivers and the safeties playing well up in the box, Penn St can't keep calling roll outs to guys running laterally along the line of scrimmage. They at least have to run patterns that are long enough to give them a chance at moving the chains, especially when it's third-and-long.

In the meantime, christ, Penn St is actually trailing a MAC team in the fourth quarter at home. I can't believe I just wrote that.

This Tettleton kid is a baller.

Blech. Penn St fucks me again in Pick 'Em.

What an implosion. PSU was on pace to win this thing by a comfy margin. And, really, it was the defense's doing. Ohio was moving the ball at will in the second half.

That was horrific.

Northwestern does to me what PSU does to you. I hate these fucksticks.

1.5 point favorite and up by 15 in the second half. The cover is looking good.

I switch back with 3:00 left in the game and Syracuse is driving for the go-ahead TD. Which they get. And then the 2-point conversion. Which makes it a 6 point game. Which means even if Northwestern scores a TD and extra point on this final drive it still won't give them enough to cover.

Un-fucking-believeable.

My "fuck me in the dimehole" teams have long been Penn St, Ohio St and...Cal.

I just cannot buy a break with these guys when they're big favorites, especially Cal on the road, and I don't know how many times the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have screwed me at home.

Van wrote:My "fuck me in the dimehole" teams have long been Penn St...

You got a problem with that?

Northwestern is giving 1.5. Bwaaa.

Dude, you need them to miss this PAT so it can go to OT.

Nope. 42-41, Cats. That one has to hurt.

And looky here, Cal is down 7-0 at home to Nevada in their first game in the renovated stadium.

(Edit: Mgo, I think you need to slap a couple of {G} tags on this thread following that hideous grill shot of Sanblorfsky.)