Indiana Hoosiers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Football Preview
Where: Beaver Stadium – University Park, PA
When: Saturday, September 30, 2017 – 3:30 PM ET
Line: Indiana Hoosiers (+17.5) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (-17.5); total: 68.0 – view all 2017 NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: Big Ten Network
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Betting on the Indiana Hoosiers (2-1)
After getting routed in the season-opener, the Hoosiers have won back-to-back. They dominated Virginia and Georgia Southern in consecutive weeks, winning by an average of 26 points.
One concern the team has now is the health of quarterback Richard Lagow, who suffered an injury last week and is listed as probable for Saturday. The sophomore has a 23-20 touchdown-interception ratio and is averaging 206 passing yards in 16 career games with Indiana.
Should Lagow sit the contest out, freshman Peyton Ramsey will again step in to be the replacement. He’s 21-for-31 for 238 yards and three TDs in three games on the season.
Whoever the QB will be should have plenty of good weapons – receivers Simmie Cobs and Luke Timian, who are both hauling in six receptions per game, and freshman running back Morgan Ellison, who has 257 yards and two TDs on 5.8 yards per carry.
Indy’s defense won’t wow anyone (82nd in points and 45th in total yards allowed), but they have a good group of pass rushers in Tegray Scales, Chris Covington, and Nate Hoff. The three each have a pair of sacks.
The Hoosiers are 5-3 in their last eight games on the road (6-2 ATS).
Betting on the Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)
Penn State is doing all it can to erase the memory of last season’s stinging loss to USC at the Rose Bowl. The team is now 4-0 while showcasing great play on both ends of the field.
The defense, first and foremost, has been just as advertised. Along with ranking second in points (8.2) and total yards allowed (273.5) per game, everyone in the unit is producing and playing their parts well. In just four games, 26 different players have a TFLs, 13 have at least 0.5 sack, and seven defensive backs have an interception. Further, opposing QBs are only completing 55.6 percent of their throws and rushers are collectively running for less than a yard per carry.
The offense isn’t going to be left behind, not with QB Trace McSorley continuing to improve. The junior has upped his completion percentage and yards per game average, and is also on pace to exceed the 29 TDs he threw last season. He’ll be getting adequate help from his safety blanket, tight end Mike Gesicki (17 rec., 148 yards, four TDs) and pass-catching back Saquon Barkley, who has 853 all-purpose yards and six total scores.
The Lions have won 16 of their last 17 games at home (10-5-2 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Penn State (-17.5) should get this one, 31-13.
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