Despite a strong Illinois start, oddsmakers make the Nittany Lions a heavy favorite.
Can the Illini match their best start since 2011, when they started 6-0 with conference wins over Indiana and Northwestern? To do that, the visitors must beat PSU, a feat they pulled off six years ago, walking out of massive Beaver Stadium with a 20-18 win.
Will it happen again? Illinois has proven it can win, beating Nebraska 31-24 in overtime and getting another big win against the Kansas Jayhawks 23-17. As expected, the Illini defeated Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan, winning those games by a combined score of 75-9.
But can defensive back Matthew Bailey (23 tackles), DB Xavier Scott (18 tackles, one forced fumble, three INTs), DB Miles Scott (19 tackles, two INTs, one forced fumble), and linebacker Dylan Rosiek (20 tackles, one sack,) slow down the Nittany Lions?
One answer is probably not. The Lions have QB Drew Allar (729 yds, 8 TDs, one INT, QBR 90.3), RB Nicholas Singleton (314 yds, two TDs rushing, 8.5 yds avg, four TDs rec), TE Tyler Warren (226 yds rec, two TDs, 14.1 yds avg, one TD passing) and WRs Omari Evans (205 yds rec, two TDs, 25.6 yd avg) and Harrison Wallace (146 yds rec, two TDs, 18.3 yds avg).
It’s Penn State (-17.5) vs Illinois, Saturday, September 28, at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA, 7:30 PM, NBC/Peacock Network.
