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Posted at 10:45 AM EST. 

Penn State +5½ over WISCONSIN

Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, WI

Streaming: FOX

12:00 PM EST. Penn State posted a disappointing 4-5 record in the plague filled 2020 season, but head coach James Franklin has the cupboards stocked with much of his offense intact (nine starters from last season and many reserves). Franklin is in his seventh year at PSU and his Nittany Lions begin the season ranked #19 in the nation and for good reason, with star runner Noah Cain returning from injury to join quarterback Sean Clifford, who is in his third year as this team's starting quarterback. Clifford and Cain will have the benefit of a stout and experienced offensive line in front of them. To further Cain's development, Franklin brought in noted "quarterback whisperer,” Mike Yurcich to be his offensive coordinator, who spent last season with Texas in a similar capacity. In 2019, Yurich worked with Justin Fields at Ohio State. Things seemed to have worked out well for that guy, as the Bears drafted Fields to be the franchise QB in Chicago. Despite their national ranking, the 2021 Nittany Lions have the stink of one of the worst teams in school history on them and they know it. Receiver Jahan Dotson said as much at Big Ten media day, "we play with that chip on our shoulder, we work out with that chip on our shoulder, every single day." We love the “us against the world” attitude.

The hype train is already steaming in Madison, as the Badgers may have their most high profile quarterback since Russell Wilson. That's high praise for one Graham Mertz. Mertz was fast out of the gate last season and had himself one of the all-time great performances by a B1G pivot, lighting up the Wolverines (20-of-21 and five TDs) 49-11. Dude had a 75% completion percentage and a 7-0 touchdown to interception ratio through being derailed. Mertz would throw just two more majors in the final six games of the season while also tossing five interceptions. Regression to the mean at its cruellest.

The Badgers, of course, are a run-first team and welcome transfer Chez Mellusi from Clemson to take on that heavy load. The success of either Mellusi or Mertz will depend on the Wisconsin OL, which was not up to its usual standards last season. This is a unit that struggled in 2020, giving up two or more sacks in four of their seven games. If there is not a significant improvement in that area, it is going to be hard for #12 Wisky to fulfil its lofty preseason expectations. Penn State's defense is no slouch either with Ellis Brooks, Jaquan Brisker and Jesse Luketa all posting at least 57 tackles last season. When you strip the logos, silence the bands and look at this matchup man for man, one could argue that the Nittany Lions are the super

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