Pitt vs. Penn State for their first game in 16 years. Whaddaya got?
Both programs are down, PSU from, ya know, and Pitt mostly because for several years they couldn't keep a head coach longer than one season and sometimes less.
A little history since I'm old and remember things, they were always in different conferences but the last time their contract was up for renewal JoPa wanted two games at PSU for every game at Pitt and Pitt was right to tell him to go pound salt.
I say a close game and Pitt wins 24-21.
Pitt always used to make PSU go to them. The game has been played 72 times in Pitt to 24 times in State College (technically 2 were in Bellefonte). It wasn't until the 80s that it alternated back and forth evenly.
When Penn State entered the Big Ten, they lost control of their schedule, with only 3 games per year open back when the season was 11 games and then 4 games when it went to 12, it was hard to committ to a yearly series with anybody because the reality if big time athletics is you try to get 8 home games out of 12 to make money.
Penn State has been scheduling all the old eastern teams in 2 year series but a regular series is tough to schedule. The only way Penn State could have committed to a long term series would be to get the 2 for 1.
Now the Big Ten and other conferences are going to 9 conference games leaving only 3 open to schedule. You won't see very many regularly scheduled non conference rivalry games anymore.
As for the game, hard to say how it will go. Penn State has a new offensive and defensive coordinator. Against Kent State, PSU pretty much ran a practice. Everything was basic so we probably haven't really seen the new offense yet. Maybe they were holding back to keep Pitt guessing or maybe they are just installing the offense slowly. We don't know yet.
Pitt isn't exactly an offensive powerhouse either. They will hammer Conner at PSU. Penn State has new starters upfront on defense and
not much depth. How will they handle a team running right at them?
Kent State really only moved the ball on a couple of trick plays. Penn State has a bunch of inexperienced new starters on defense so they made a bunch of assignment mistakes. Pitt's offense doesn't have much trickery but they may put some in for this game.
Penn State's new offense is based on run pass options. On most plays there will be some kind of read option where the QB can throw, run, or hand it off.
The main weapon is RB Saquon Barkley. Last week his only rush attempt were from a read option look. Will there be some more formations unveiled vs Pitt. Will they play freshman 5 star RB Miles Sanders along with Barkley?
Chris Godwin is the top WR. He has size and speed as a deep threat. Aside from him, PSU has a bunch of young players . Saed Blacknall is big and fast. Last week he made 1 big play and then on another play, the ball hit him in the facemask without him even knowing the ball was coming his way.
Penn State 20
Pitt 14
I'm thinking low scoring as Pitt chews clock. Penn State's young skill players make a few big plays.
