– Last Updated on July 27, 2019 8:11 am
2019 Football Preview – Big Ten- Nittany Lions
Looking for 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions Predictions – NCAA Futures, Betting Odds predictions? Penn State will compete but few are expecting them to take the division from either Michigan or Ohio State. This year will be about finding a quarterback and setting up for a big season in 2020.
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2019-20 College Football Preview – Penn State Nittany Lions
Head Coach: James Franklin
2018 Record: 9-4
Penn State Nittany Lions Odds to win the 2019 FBS Championship: 100/1
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If Penn State is better than expected they have the schedule to be a factor nationally. They go to Ohio State but host Michigan. Those are going to be the toughest games.
2019 Penn State Nittany Lions Predictions: Team Strengths
Leading with Defense: Trace McSorley was the identify of this team the last few seasons. This season as they break in a new quarterback there is more experience on the defensive side of the ball.
Penn State has about 70% of its tackes, tackles for loss and sacks returning this season and they might need the befense to be even better than it was a year ago.
They are especially loaded at defensive end where Jayson Oweh is someone to watch this season. He has been clocked at 4.33 in the 40 and may be a terror coming off the edge.
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Their inside guys have experience and are good enough to create lots of mismatches for Penn State. Maybe the defense is elite.
Out Wide: The Nittany Lions are sitting on some strength at receiver this season. KJ Hamler is a great athlete and looks like he can break out if the quarterback play is good.
Pat Freiermuth is one of the best tight ends in the conference. He can catch and block and last year he had eight touchdown catches.
Justin Shorter was a five star recruit who did not get much time last year as a redshirt. He is another guy who could explode this season with good decision making in the pivot.
2019 Penn State Nittany Lions Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Change in the Pivot?: Trace McSorley threw for more than 1400 yards than the second best quarterback in Penn State history. That is who they are looking to replace.
Sean Clifford is looking like the heir apparent. He has a big arm but has thrown only 7 passes over two seasons. McSorley had an it factor and we will have to see how he does.
Tommy Stevens decided to transfer rather than compete for time with Clifford and some early enrollees who are four star talent.
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McSorley had the luxury of handing off to NFL calibre running backs the last couple of seasons. Ricky Slade looks similar in size and stature to the likes of Barkley and Sanders but does not have much experience either.
That is the knock on this offense this season, there is just not a lot of experience on that side of the ball. That included the offensive line where just over half the starts are returning. That group needs to be good to give all of these players a chance.
Penn State has talent that is not the problem. There is just an uneasiness for how it is all going to come together. It could be a great mix or there could be growing pains. .
Penn State Nittany Lions Prediction: 7-5
The nonconference is not that challenging they should beat Buffalo and their annual tilt against Pitt.
On the road I see at Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State. The first two could be games that they steal though.
A trip to Purdue is a swing game I think could be a coin flip. Purdue has an offense that can really challenge a Penn State defense that will be very strong.
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I think this is the low end of the range for Penn State. I can see them getting up to 9 if things break right and Clifford is good this season. He will probably have more ups and downs than we have seen with this program in the recent past.
2019 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule
Date Time vs
- 8/31/19 TBD IDHO
- 9/7/19 TBD BUFF
- 9/14/19 TBD PITT
- 9/27/19 TBD @MD
- 10/5/19 TBD PUR
- 10/12/19 TBD @IOWA
- 10/19/19 TBD MICH
- 10/26/19 TBD @MSU
- 11/9/19 TBD @MINN
- 11/16/19 TBD IND
- 11/23/19 TBD @OSU
- 11/30/19 TBD RUTG
What do you think about our 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2019!
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