– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:51 am
2017 Football Preview – Big Ten – Nittany Lions
Looking for 2017 Penn State Nittany Lions predictions? The Nittany Lions had a dream 2016 season and they look like they are back. There was some controversy after they were left out of the FBS Playoffs. Eventually they lost to USC 52-49 in the Rose Bowl, but even with that loss it was one of the most successful seasons they have had in years.
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2017-18 College Football Preview – Penn State Nittany Lions
Head Coach: James Franklin
2016 Record: 11-3
Penn State Nittany Lions to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +1200
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The expectations are higher then ever in Happy Valley. Can the Nittany Lions handle the pressure?
2017 Penn State Nittany Lions Predictions: Team Strengths
Two Heisman Candidates: Most teams are happy to have just one Heisman Trophy hopefully, but in the case of the Penn State Nittany Lions they have two.
Quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley returned to school because they felt they had some unfinished business.
Barkley was fantastic in 2016 coming out of the backfield. He ran for 1496 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also had 402 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
He is one of the most electrifying backs that Penn State has ever had and will probably be a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
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Sophomore Trace McSorley had 3164 yards passing and 29 touchdowns. Although he struggled a bit at the beginning of the season towards the end he looked like an NFL quarterback.
Those two together should make quite the dynamic duo
Great Pass Catchers: Penn State lost Chris Godwin but that shouldn’t be a problem. James Franklin has done a great job at recruiting wide receivers and it seems McSorley will have plenty of targets to spread the ball around to.
DeAndre Thompkins and DaeSean Hamilton are both back this year, and they are going to be key veterans in that room to help teach the younger guys how to be Nittany Lions.
2017 Penn State Nittany Lions Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Questions on the defense: I wouldn’t really call the defense quite a weakness but they are a question coming into this season.
They know they need to improve because they gave up too many points last year. They really need their guys up front to create more pressure up front.
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There secondary should be a strength but they are also young back there, so they need to make sure the big moments don’t get too big and get to them.
For Penn State to have a lot of success this year, the defense is the key. If the defense can have success this team is going to do big things, and the people of Happy Valley are going to be happy.
High expectations: The expectations are high around this program, and for sure the highest they have ever been around James Franklin.
How he keeps his players calm with all this pressure will be key to how far this team can go. If he can keep their heads on the pressure is no problem.
But a lot of time pressure makes people crack and if that happens, there is going to be a lot of disappointed people around this program.
It seems to be right now it’s FBS Playoff or bust for this squad. Anything else will be seen as a lost season for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State Nittany Lions Prediction
11-1
Penn State scheduled themselves a pretty easy non conference schedule and that should really help their success.
They have three games on their schedule that might cause them some issues, Michigan, Ohio State and maybe Nebraska.
I think Nebraska is a win and they win one of the two against Michigan and Ohio State.
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That should be enough to get them into the Big Ten title game again, and this time they will get their shot into the FBS Playoffs.
2017 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule
- 9/2/17 12:00 AKR
- 9/9/17 TBD PITT
- 9/16/17 TBD GSU
- 9/23/17 TBD @IOWA
- 9/30/17 TBD IND
- 10/7/17 TBD @NW
- 10/21/17TBD MICH
- 10/28/17TBD @OSU
- 11/4/17 TBD @MSU
- 11/11/17TBD RUTG
- 11/18/17TBD NEB
- 11/25/17TBD @MD
What do you think about our 2017 Penn State Nittany Lions predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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