Opening weekend

[El-Moldo]

I brought up the 2 QB system at PSU. Is that relevent???? 10,000 empty seats at Beaver Stadium on opening day IS relevent also. After all, how is PSU going to financially support their fencing program? Touche'

[KirkHerbstreit]

Pitt - Maine tickets on stubhub for 1.99. Get them while they're hot!

APK - First off, I love Penn State football I just don't worship Joe Paterno and think he is God. Also, I don't think I know more than Joepa, but I think there are lots of coaches that could do more than he could currently at this age. Tell me the last time Penn State beat someone in a game where they weren't expected to win? Times have changed and Paterno hasn't.

As for Penn State having an 8 win season. 8 wins is not that good when most years you have 4 built in wins on the schedule. That is basically a .500 team who still has very winnable games such as Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, etc.

[jack daniel]

Kirk

Other then beating LSU in the Capital One Bowl following the 2009 season I don't think they've pulled an upset since 2005 when they beat Ohio St under the lights at Beaver the weekend Paternoville was born. I agree 8 wins is not acceptable at all, I just wish Joe would do what is best for the program and step down.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Illini was a winnable game last season and PSU got trashed by them.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Penn State 8-4 at best, looks like 7-5 to me. I'm just being realistic.

I think they lose to Alabama, Nebraska, and Wisconsin flat out no questions asked.
Iowa, at Northwestern and at Ohio State are no gimmes either.



But something is missing from this Penn State schedule, like a rivalry game or something.....Not Pitt.....hmmm whose their rival again? Oh that's right, Michigan State.

[deliverance]

Are you guys completely ruling out any chance PSU wins this weekend? I didn't get to see their first game, so I'm not sure what to expect when I tune in on Saturday. I know neither team has settled their quarterback positions to this point. 'Bama is going to have to rely on Richardson to have a big game and I can't see either team scoring over 28. I know Saban is a lot better coach than Paterno is at this day and age, but I didn't think you would be ruling PSU out already. What gives?

[Crimson's Ghost]

I'm a Pitt fan so I generally don't have any sort of confidence in Penn State. But Alabama's talent outweighs Penn State's big time. The main thing that keeps Penn State around is Beaver Stadium. Can PSU win? Yeah they could, I wouldn't take it to Vegas. Although I may be tempted to take the Lions with the current line of 10 points.

[jack daniel]

I'm a PSU fan and it'll take them playing a perfect game, with Bolden under center, and Bama committing 2-3 turnovers and PSU capitalizing on them to have any chance. I still think 9-3 is doable. Lose to Bama, Wisconsin, and the Huskers. Rest are winnable.

[KirkHerbstreit]

I'm not ruling PEnn State out, but I've seen them play enough games as an underdog over the past 10+ years to have a good idea what the end result will be. They generally play very conservative in games like this on offense and defense. Could they win? Sure and I will gladly eat crow if they do.
That being said,

I did not like what i seen from their pass protection. It struggled.
I still think they are weak over the middle on defense.
I'm skeptical as to why 1 QB has not stood out enough to take the reigns or why they have not let 1 qb get the snaps.
Last week looked like two guys who were unsure of themselves.

One reason why I feel they could have a chance is Silas Redd. I think he is a difference maker.

Like Crimson said, it's just being realistic about the team. I don't root any less. I've just tempered my expectations based off of what I've seen of Penn State under the current coaching staff.