The Penn State Nittany Lions still feel like they're a step or two off of the rest of the Big Ten at this point. They're not quite Michigan or Ohio State, but they can use the rebuilding of the Wolverines as motivation that they can become title contenders within a year or two. This season sure feels like another part of the rebuild from the fallout of the Joe Paterno era, but that's not to say that PSU won't be a really good team.
Penn State Nittany Lions Regular Season Win Total Odds at BookMaker.eu
Penn State Over 8 Wins ( +125 )
Penn State Under 8 Wins ( -165 )
The Nittany Lions are going to be all about their defense for as long as James Franklin is calling the shots. They ranked No. 14 in the nation in total defense and allowed just 21.8 points per game. Those are the types of numbers which really should win games in this league, but being hampered by an offense which averaged just 23.2 points per game killed that advantage.
The defense should again be good. Six starters are back from last season, though 2017 is shaping up to be a better year on that side of the ball when 10 of the projected 11 starters should return.
The offense has its holes. Chris Godwin and Saquon Barkley are fantastic skill players, but someone is going to have to figure out how to get them the football. Trace McSorley is the prime choice to start under center, though everything could change just before the start of the season.
The real wild card is going to be the effect of Joe Moorhead as the team's new offensive coordinator. He's installing a no-huddle offense, something that could end up jumpstarting this unit, and something which could end up being a deterrent to the defense in the end as well.
2016 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule
September 3 – vs. Kent State
September 10 – at Pittsburgh
September 17 – vs. Temple
September 24 – at Michigan
October 1 – vs. Minnesota
October 8 – vs. Maryland
October 22 – vs. Ohio State
October 29 – at Purdue
November 5 – vs. Iowa
November 12 – at Indiana
November 19 – at Rutgers
November 26 – vs. Michigan State
One will look at those daunting games against Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State and suggest that Penn State has three surefire losses there, but we aren't so sure. Two of the three are at home, and only the trip to the Big House seems to be too daunting to overcome for sure, especially since OSU and MSU are expected to take some steps backwards this year.
There are a few swing games on this schedule for sure. A roadie to Pitt is never easy, and road games against Purdue and Indiana are surely potential traps. Win two of those three, and the Nittany Lions can rest assured that they are on their way to at least an eight-win season and another respectable bowl game.
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There are going to be some growing pains in Happy Valley with this new offense, but we think it could end up really helping. We do think that the Nittany Lions are going to punt that game against Pittsburgh, but they can make it up later on against one of the elite teams in the conference.
Though in the end, we think this team is headed for right at eight wins as the oddsmakers suggest, we're going to ere on the side of the over. McSorley isn't Christian Hackenberg in terms of his talent, but he has better pieces around him now than Hackenberg really ever did at the program. PSU is a year away from really having a shot to contend for the Big Ten title, but it could reasonably get to nine wins this year to boost Franklin's standing and keep the boosters off of his back.
College Football Odds: Penn State Nittany Lions Over 8 Wins
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