No. 17 PSU vs. FIU Preview

School: Florida International University (FIU), Golden Panthers
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal, 1st Year, 0-0
2006 Record: 0-12
Record Last Five Years: 15-41; 0-0 in bowls; 0-7 non-conference

Key Players, Defense: CB Lionell Singleton, DT Roland Clarke, CB Robert Mitchell

Key Players, Offense: OL Andy Leavine, FB John Ellis, any of the 3 possible QBs

What to look for: I feel sorry for HC Cristobal. But he asked for a tough schedule, and boy did he get one. FIU can only hope to put up any points against PSU. Of course, it's bad enough its offense was the problem all of 2006, and now it has to attempt performing in front of 107,000 people. QB's Hughes, Colt and Mann are young, and very inexperienced. What will make things even more difficult is that RB's Ned and Reeves rushed for 770 yards and 5 TDs in 2006 COMBINED. Don't expect much from the FIU ground game against PSU. However, the FIU defense is its strength, which fits perfectly into any slim hopes of pulling the upset, as PSU's offense will still be working out the kinks. Although DT's Clarke and Murrell bring experience and size, pressure on PSU will have to start with the inconsistent DE's Warthen and Penerton. Unfortunately for FIU, it won't happen. CB Singleton picked off five passes in 2006, and is actually highly regarded by experts as one of the better CB's in the nation. I think FIU will try to lock him on PSU's Williams or Butler. Singleton also averaged 28.7 yards per kick return (1 TD) and 10 yards per punt return in 2006. FIU will need all the help it can get. While it will be a much improved team from 2006, this game will not show it.

Fun Stat: Average PPG in games 1-4, FIU 16- OPP 18.75. Average PPG in games 5-12, FIU 6.3- OPP 29.75.

School: The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Nittany Lions
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 42nd Year, 363-121-3
2006 Record: 9-4 (5-3), Won Outback Bowl (1/1/07) vs. No. 20 Tennessee
Record Last Five Years: 36-25; 1-1 in bowls; 7-4 non-conference

Key Players, Defense: LB Dan Connor, CB Justin King, S Anthony Scirrotto

Key Players, Offense: QB Anthony Morelli, WR Derrick Williams, FB Matt Hahn (I'll explain in a minute)

What to look for: If PSU can't run the ball against this defense, it's going to be a long year. But I think PSU will do what it has done best in recent years, using the deep pass to set up the run, to set up the short-mid range play action pass. The loss of TE Quarless will surely hurt, but there are more than enough targets for QB Morelli. This game will be crucial for the OL. They need to overcome the youth and position changes, and jell quickly. As long as they give Morelli enough time (unlike 2006), this should be a good warm up before Notre Dame. Now, I said FB Hahn would be important to the offense because he has a knack for coming up with big plays when he actually gets the ball. The Paternos love to throw Hahn's way out of the backfield for big chunks of yards, and if PSU needs to get something going, he's the perfect safety valve. Nothing should surprise anyone on PSU's defense. I'm calling for a great (as usual) outing by LB's Connor, Lee and Sales. It will be interesting to see if LB Hayes sees time at DE, similar to how Tim Shaw was used in 2006. The return game should offer some fireworks now that the kickoffs have been moved to the 30. Either WR Williams or CB Wallace will score on a return.

Fun Stat: 2006 PSU scoring defense in games 1-7, 19.8 ppg, games 8-13, 8 ppg.

ZN's GAME PREDICTION: PSU will rest its starters midway through the third quarter, as FIU will score in the first half, but miss the PAT. Going into the locker room, PSU will hold an uncomfortable lead, by only 14-17 points. Paterno will give them a good smacking upside the head, and will have his team come out roaring in the second half. The bulk of PSU's scoring will happen within a three to five-minute span in the begining of the third quarter, somewhere between 17-24 points. FIU will get a fumble recovery late in the game, get a meaningless FG, but will in turn prevent PSU from covering the spread.

PSU 45, FIU 9

VEGAS:

PSU (-38) FIU

ACTUAL SCORE:

PSU 59, FIU 0