Penn State vs. Rutgers: 5 Bold Predictions for Week 3 Game

By Mike Gibson

5 Bold Predictions for Penn State vs. Rutgers

Penn State football, — On Saturday, a pair of traditional Eastern schools will get together when Rutgers welcomes Penn State to Piscataway for the first-ever Big 10 home game for Rutgers. It will be a step up from the AAC, where the Scarlet Knights played last year on the way to a 6-7 season. Penn State has a new coach in James Franklin and is unbeaten at 2-0. One of the wins was against last year’s AAC champ, Central Florida. Here’s what to expect.

5. Only RU fans Will Think It’s a Rivalry

Penn State football,

5. Only RU fans Will Think It’s a Rivalry

Penn State football, — Rutgers and Penn State reside in adjacent states, but Penn State considers its in-state partners, Pitt and Temple, bigger rivals than Rutgers and Penn State’s adjacent state Big 10 rival is Ohio State, not Rutgers.

4. PSU Offense Will Feature Play-Action

Penn State, Rutgers, football,

4. PSU Offense Will Feature Play-Action

Penn State, Rutgers, football, — Penn State head coach James Franklin said the key to scoring points is establishing the running game and then watching his receivers run free through play-action passes. With hard-running tailback Zach Zwinak getting the tough yards, Penn State should be able to control the clock and pick its spots for play action.

3. PSU QB Hackenberg Will Have His Way With Secondary

Penn State, Rutgers, football,

3. PSU QB Hackenberg Will Have His Way With Secondary

Penn State, Rutgers, football, — Two of the Rutgers’ secondary starters are converted wide receivers, due to injuries and players leaving the program. Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg knows that weakness well after several days of watching game film.

2. Stadium Will Be Packed With PSU Fans

Penn State, Rutgers, football,

2. Stadium Will Be Packed With PSU Fans

Penn State, Rutgers, football, — Penn State has a much larger fanbase with deeper pockets and those fans will spend whatever it takes to fill half of the stadium at Rutgers. Even though it’s a road game, it will seem like an away game for the Scarlet Knights.

1. Penn State Will Win Big

Penn State, Rutgers, football,

1. Penn State Will Win Big

Penn State, Rutgers, football, — Penn State has a big edge in coaching, with the school going out and hiring Franklin, one of the SEC’s rising coaching stars last year. The Scarlet Knights, on the other hand, were forced to promote offensive line assistant Kyle Flood two years ago when then FIU head coach Mario Cristobal rejected them. Big edge in the most important area to PSU and that means the Nittany Lions will win going away, 35-21.

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Penn State Nittany Lions

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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