Penn St. Nittany Lions 2009 Season Preview/Prediction
The College Football season may be 7-8 weeks away but our man James Hayes has been deep in study and will provide his take and 2009 College Football Predictions on as many NCAA teams as he can before the 2009/10 season kicks off.
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Coach: Joe Paterno
2008 Record: 11-2
The Lions were USC’s annual Big Ten prey in the Rose Bowl last season, but that doesn’t change the fact they had a phenomenal campaign. Crafty vet senior QB (might stick in the NFL as a Wildcat-offense kinda guy?) Daryll Clark and running back Evan “Blue Royster Cult” Royster should again make fans in Happy Valley…well, happy.
Gambling Odds from Betus.com to win BCS: +4000
The top three wideouts from last year accounted for 61% of Penn State’s receiving yards, and they are all gone. Hence, the Lions will be leaning on Clark and Royster to generate their offense. At tailback, the Lions have speedy Stephfon Green and bruiser Brandon Beachum for depth. They also have a pair of solid tight ends in Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler.
Defensively, ‘Linebacker U’ lives up to its name, with 2008’s leading tackler Navorro Bowman teaming up with star ’backer Sean Lee, who suffered a torn ACL last season. With the linebackers as well as size and experience up the middle of the D-line, the front seven should be effective in shutting down opponents’ run game.
Team Strengths
The excellent offensive backfield and maybe the best linebacking unit in the NCAA will translate into success in the gritty Big Ten. These tendencies are supplemented by one of the best punters in the conference, Jeremy Boone. JoePa’s men will control the ball and win the field position game more often than not.
Team Weaknesses
The Lions lose a lot of depth from the defensive secondary; some freshmen will likely be called upon to make an immediate contribution. Losing Rimington Award-winning center A.Q. Shipley will also hurt. The defensive ends are talented but not very game-tested.
Many critics were on ancient coach Joe Paterno (he is entering his 44th season as head coach at Happy Valley – no that is not a misprint) at the turn of the decade for losing his touch.
However, since 2005 Penn State has been in the thick of the January bowl rat race. In a still somewhat slumping Big Ten, Paterno and Co. are probably the cream of the crop.
Expect another Rose Bowl appearance for those rabid Pennsylvanian fans.
2009 Penn State Nittany Lions Record Prediction: 11-2
James has been naming every player on the EA Sports NCAA video game rosters for half a decade now, he’s finally putting his knowledge to better use. Writing for us here at CappersPicks.com. As always you’re comments are welcome below…Give Us Your Take!
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One reply on “2009 Penn St. Nittany Lions Gambling Odds”
Penn St lost quite a bit of talent from last years team that was a serious National Title contender and finished an impressive 11-2. Joe Pa will have his team ready to win the Big 10, but I do not expect them to be as good as last year.