REALITY CHECK
UNBEATEN MINNESOTA FACES ITS TOUGHEST TEST YET IN PENN STATE
Keys for Penn State
Spread the field: Running backs Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders carried the load for the offense in recent years, but the Nittany Lions now lean on a stacked receiving corps led by sophomore deep threat KJ Hamler. He has 37 catches for 620 yards and eight touchdowns. Hamler and Pat Freiermuth combined for 10 receptions for 117 yards and four TDs in Penn State’s most recent win, 28-7 against Michigan State on Oct. 26.
Minimize penalties: Penn State committed a seasonhigh nine penalties for 104 yards against the Spartans. Those penalties had little bearing on the final margin, but a similarly undisciplined game could prove costly against a Minnesota team that has thrived in close situations.
Keys for Minnesota
Solve Penn State’s defense:
The Nittany Lions are second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 9.6 points per game, and ninth nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 280 yards per game. The Golden Gophers’ offense has been efficient but will be facing a whole different animal against Penn State.
Feed Rodney Smith: Minnesota doesn’t possess the most prolific pass offense, ranking 72nd nationally with 225 yards per game. But the Gophers will likely stick to their strengths and look to fifth-year senior Rodney Smith to carry the load. Smith, Minnesota’s career leader in all-purpose yards, has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in his last five starts and scored six times in that span.
Prediction
Penn State 21, Minnesota
17. Both of these teams are defense-oriented, but Penn State’s weapons on offense give the Lions an edge. A signature win over undefeated Penn State would catapult the Gophers into the top 10 for the first time since 1962, but this is their first true test. Experience and talent matter in such matchups.