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Week 11: Nebraska vs. Penn State Preview & Free Pick

Nebraska vs. Penn State

Last time Penn State Nittany Lions played a football game, the game ended with everyone celebrating Joe Paterno’s record-setting 409th career victory.

Kyle Hunter
Kyle Hunter

This weekend Joe Paterno won’t be a part of the Penn State football program for the first time in 61 years.

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Beaver Stadium
Saturday November 12, 12:00 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Nebraska (-170) Penn State (+150)
College Football Spread: Nebraska -3.5 (-110) Penn State +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 43

The last week has seen allegations of heinous crimes against children that has rocked an entire community. The last thing from most people’s minds right now is a football game. Even though it does seem so much smaller now than it did before, this weekend’s game against Nebraska is a crucial game in the Big Ten.

Penn State is the only team unbeaten in the Big Ten, and Nebraska is still fighting for the Big Ten Legends Division crown.

Bo Pellini and the Cornhuskers will look to rebound after a disappointing home loss at the hands of Northwestern last weekend. The Huskers were 17.5 point home favorites in that game, but they trailed all game and couldn’t quite pull out a comeback victory. Taylor Martinez had a great game throwing the football, but that really isn’t the team’s strength. Nebraska is at their best when they are running the football early and often. The Cornhuskers only picked up 122 yards on 35 carries last week. Rex Burkhead is a workhorse in the backfield, and it would be hard to find a runner who fights harder for every extra yard. Nebraska’s offense averages 35 points per contest.

The big disappointment this year has been the Nebraska defense. This unit was expected to be one of the best in the nation, but they haven’t been very good. Especially troubling is the fact that they are allowing 161 yards per game on the ground. The front seven will need to step up in this one. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

The whirlwind that has gone on around Happy Valley over the last few days has to have affected the players in some way, but only time will tell how they will react. The Nittany Lions are 8-1 at this point in the season, and the defense is definitely the unit to thank for that impressive record. The defense ranks eighth in the nation in total defense. They are only giving up 12.4 points per game so far this year.

What about the Nittany Lions offense? Matt McGloin seems to have taken hold of the quarterback spot of late. McGloin is completing just 56% of his passes, but he has a nice touchdown/interception ratio of 7 to 3. Penn State relies heavily on the running game. Silas Redd has emerged as the team’s primary runner. Redd has already topped 1,000 yards on the season, and he is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The offense should benefit from a healthy Derek Moye being ready to go for this one.

Emotions will be running high at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. I think both defenses will have the upper hand in this one. Look for a fairly low scoring contest.

Free College Football Pick: Under 43
Score Prediction: Nebraska 20 Penn State 17

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