My query this season is easy: Can Purdue do it once more?
The Boilermakers haven’t pieced collectively back-to-back successful seasons since 2006 and 2007, so it’s truthful to be skeptical a couple of program that hasn’t skilled sustained success in a while.
“Super senior” quarterback Aidan O’Connell returns for Purdue, however a lot of his weaponry is lengthy gone. The Boilermakers needed to exchange their prime three receivers, together with first-team All-American David Bell, who caught 93 balls for nearly 1,300 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Heir obvious wideout Broc Thompson went off for 217 yards within the Music City Bowl, however protection was non-compulsory in what shortly become a monitor meet with 93 factors and 1,297 whole yards of offense.
That’s not going to occur towards Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are perennially powerful within the secondary. They additionally convey again future NFL’er PJ Mustipher [6’4″, 325] within the trenches after he elected to make use of his further yr of eligibility to return for the upcoming season.
Let’s not overlook that Penn State began 5-0 final yr and led 17-3 at No. 3 Iowa, however Mustipher blew out his knee, and quarterback Sean Clifford exited the sport with a rib damage that he battled via for the remainder of the marketing campaign.
Iowa escaped with a victory, and Penn State by no means recovered.
Both gamers are again, which can assist set the tone for a Nittany Lions squad that’s clearly making an attempt to shake the notion that they’ve underachieved over the past two years within the Big Ten.
I additionally spoke to a few skilled bettors down on Purdue and shall be seeking to brief the workforce fairly a bit. It’s powerful to disagree with these sentiments, given how a lot the Boilermakers exceeded expectations and the way a lot offensive firepower they have to exchange.
Let’s purchase low on Franklin’s bunch and lay the factors.
To allow you to get to the pay window, listed below are my ideas on this week’s contest.
How many whole factors shall be scored within the recreation? Under 46, 46-49, 50-54, 55-56, 57-60, 61+
Prediction: 50-54
Which workforce can have essentially the most solo tackles, and what number of will they’ve? 0-30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38+
Prediction: Penn State, 33
Which workforce can have essentially the most passing yards, and what number of will they’ve? 0-265, 266-295, 296-310, 311-355, 356-365, 366-375, 376-385, 386-395, 396+
Prediction: Purdue, 315
Which workforce can have the longest play, and the way lengthy will or not it’s? 0-30, 31-35, 36-41, 42-47, 48-53, 54-57, 58-64, 65-75, 75+
Prediction: Purdue, 40
Which workforce can have the longest area, and the way lengthy will or not it’s? 0-29, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-40, 41-42, 43-44, 45-46, 47+
Prediction: Penn State, 37
6. Which workforce will win and by what number of factors? 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17+
Prediction: Penn State, 7
As you possibly can see from my clarification above, I’m all aboard the PSU prepare tonight!
Sam Panayotovich is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports and NESN. He beforehand labored for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. He’ll in all probability choose towards your favourite workforce. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot.
