Preview: Penn State At Indiana
by Chris Grovich on Sep 30, 2011 8:00 AM EDT
in Football
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PrintPenn State Nittany Lions (3-1, 2-1 FBS) at Indiana Hoosiers (1-3, 0-3 FBS)
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
The Line: Indiana +16
TV: IT'S ALL ABOUT THA ESPNU. Clay Matvick (play by play), Brian Griese (analyst) & Allison Williams (sideline)
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny, 13 mph wind from the north
Enemy Recon. The Crimson Quarry. Makes a Morrissey album seem like The Polyphonic Spree.
The Good Indiana. Penn State's opening day opponent, Indiana State, just snuck into the FCS Coaches' Poll. It's entirely possible that ISU is better than Indiana right now.
How Bad Are Things In Bloomington? Well, their star running back has been out since the fourth game of last year with a knee injury, yet mysteriously participated in a fifth-tier pro wrestling event in Bloomington last weekend while his team was losing to North Texas, which entered that game winless and ranked last among 120 FBS teams in total defense. So, awesome? FYI, the Hoosiers are now leaning on freshman running back D’Angelo Roberts -- one of 16 true freshman that new IU Head Coach Kevin Wilson has played thus far.
The Quarterback Controversy You're Dying To Dissect. Will it be Dusty Kiel or Ed Wright-Baker for Indiana? Wright-Baker (80-for-129, 925 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT) was the starter for the first four games, and Kiel (11-for-18, 172 YDS, 2 TD) mounted a rally off the bench at North Texas last week. Wright-Baker has run for 157 yards in four games (he's also lost 69, for an overall average of 2.1 ypc). Neither should scare you.
Seriously, They Do Nothing Well. Indiana averages about 15 yards per kickoff return. Their punting is awful. They've given up 12 sacks in games against Ball State, Virginia, South Carolina State, and North Texas, while recording only one sack in those four games. They ran for 50 yards at North Texas. Their defensive coordinator was openly lamenting about how many "loafing" plays his defense had last week.
Nothing? Okay, they have some good receivers in Damarlo Belcher, Duwyce Wilson, and Kofi Hughes. All three of them are battling nagging injuries. Their kicker, Mitch Ewald, is pretty good (his only misses are from 48 and 49 yards this season) but has only two touchbacks in 20 kickoffs.
What To Hope For. A quick start. By any reasonable measure, this should be a stomping from the opening kickoff. Look for the Penn State quarterbacks' progression in terms of checking down to secondary receivers. Tilt your head in wonder at the criteria for using specific quarterbacks and placekickers. Be grateful for a day that we're not Indiana fans.
And...If They Lose? Oh, you don't even want to know, man. It's a cripple fight between Minnesota and Indiana for Worst B1G Team. They're both unspeakably bad. A loss in this game should make you question existence.
Prediction In GIF Form?
Penn State 42, Indiana 13.
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Prediction in gif form: OH MY GOD THEY'RE EATING HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM
by Peter Gray on Sep 30, 2011 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Correct.
I believe the documentary you’re referring to is “Best Worst Movie,” which I still need to see.
it is and its fantastic
for example, the mentally deranged man who works at the nilbog store, was literally taken from an insane asylum. And the director’s reaction to people laughing at parts that “arent funny” is priceless. I highly recommend it.
the absolute best part is that it is called Troll 2
yet is in no shape or form an actual sequel of Troll 1. They don’t even call them trolls, they’re Goblins (though I guess a town called llort doesn’t have quite the same ring to it)
Mmmmm, green goo.
by The JuggerNitt on Oct 1, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Indiana has a very nice set of starting receivers
and yeah, every other facet of that team might be the Big Ten’s worst.
45-10, but 38-3 entering the 4th quarter. Indiana gets a FG following a PSU turnover inside the PSU 40. McGloin has the better day statistically, but both he and Bolden throw 2 TD passes and average over 10 per attempt.
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
The first is a Bolden fumble
and the second is a pick-6 by McGloin
by misdreavus79 on Sep 30, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Here's what I'm thinking
Bolden commits a fluky turnover, like a ball batted into the air at the line and intercepted, but he has above average numbers, like 8-11 for 150 yards and 1 TD. McGloin, however, puts on a show, 15-17 for 240 and TDs, plus a really short yardage rushing TD. He crowns himself QB for the year, a la Napoleon crowning himself holy roman emperor. Penn State wins 37-0, and it feels like we could have scored 80 if we had wanted to.
One week of “we finally got the offense together, we’re going 11-1.”
Next week, McGloin throws three epic picks in a home loss against Iowa that is made all that much more soul crushing because even with the interceptions, it’s winnable right until the end. At least one PSU drive starts in Iowa territory and ends on a McGloin pick. Yet Bolden doesn’t see the field once.
Now that I wrote out this painfully plausible scenario, it can’t possibly come true – not even a little bit – right?
Right?
Truthfully
I think the coaches will pull either one after the second pick.
McGloin can’t “crown himself”…only the coaches can anoint someone.
After last year, and JoePa already declaring that he made a mistake in not playing Bolden last year in the latter games.
Most likely is, if McGloin outperforms Bolden, and McGloin is anointed “the Guy”, then Bolden will pout and transfer immediately.
"Illegitimus non Carborundum!" (Don't let the bastards wear you down)
I actually give the coaching staff a lot of credit for not naming McGloin the starter yet
If you take away the Alabama game, he’s putting up mildly insane, like approaching 94 Kerry Collins insane, numbers. 75% completion, ~9.5 ypa, 3 TD / 44 att, 0 INT. They must be grading the film pretty carefully to think that McGloin hasn’t clearly separated himself so far. I would agree, he hasn’t, but the numbers are getting harder to ignore.
I’m a big believer that McGloin is superior to Bolden against bad defenses and Bolden is superior to McGloin against good ones, and that’s why I want to see Bolden full time against Iowa and Ohio State, McGloin full time against Nebraska, and I don’t mind at all if the current system continues against Indiana, Purdue, and Northwestern. Jury’s still out on the defenses of Illinois and Wisconsin.
BHGP did a preview of every B1G game, and predicted PSU beats Iowa after Bolden comes in and rescues the game from a miserable McGloin performance. I could see either your scenario or that one playing out.
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
And this gets a rec for the Morrissey reference
/listeningtothesmithsrightnow
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
That photo.
Is Lynch calling for a holding penalty or checking his pulse? Big Ten refs will do that to you, ya know.
Yeah, there are 2 things we know for sure......
1) Holding is NEVER called in the B1G and 2) There’s no crying in baseball, with the exception of the last day of the Majors, monday night.
"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God." The Government is like the Mob, you can check out, but never leave.
by DerryPharmer on Sep 30, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
And holding in the B1G Ten
is why teams become perplexed by all the flags thrown in OOC and bowl games.
Bill Lynch is what happens
When Kirk Ferentz makes everyone play wide receiver instead of guard.
by Peter Gray on Sep 30, 2011 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Which is exactly why
Iowa is a boring winner and Indiana was an entertaining loser
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
That picture sums Bill Lynch up so nicely
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by letsgopsu on Sep 30, 2011 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Or Douche Bags With Date-Rape Tendencies?
Run.
by Bob Sacamano on Sep 30, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I really believe your preview is going to be more entertaining than the actual game.
I will watch it all with an academic interest, and enjoy the win but your GIF is the ultimate winner.
I miss Bill Lynch
With this offense against a D-1A opponent, I doubt we are able to crack 30 points. Indiana is not EMU even if they do suck.
19-13 is my prediction. Ugly, boring, and yet a some how satisfying win.
Anyway, the flashlights eat our human power grids, our souls if you will. So i destroyed them, and if a few precious panties were burnt or soiled in the reckoning then so be it
Millz
all this negativity from you, man, I feel like I need to give you a hug. You know, as grown men do.
"I don’t know what he’s done differently, whether he’s eating differently or Sue is making him happier, but he’s definitely a different coach out there" Devon Still
by jman07 on Sep 30, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Have you seen Indiana play bro?
Because if you saw even a tiny hint of them playing North Texas, you know we’ll have 21 points by the end of the first quarter.
by misdreavus79 on Sep 30, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Some of that was fluky
I would be very disappointed with anything less than 10, and think 28 is totally possible if PSU starts with the ball
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
I'm right-handed, Swiggy.
Do you mind reversing this fist?
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Sep 30, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
you mean you arent am-bro-dextrious
by swiggy04 on Sep 30, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
More like ambiguous.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Sep 30, 2011 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Man, after Ace and Gary,
you may want to refrain from referring to yourself as “Ambiguous”. Just a thought….
"Illegitimus non Carborundum!" (Don't let the bastards wear you down)
Need some help understanding those references, RW
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Sep 30, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Funny!
The things people think up . . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
Indiana is worse than EMU.
"Who do you think you are? You’re the son-of-a-bitch that sat at that desk over there and fired Johnny Cash. Let it go down in history that you’re the dumbest son-of-a-bitch I’ve ever met." - Merle Haggard
by ReadingRambler on Sep 30, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Probably
If they played at a neutral site, I’d set the line at EMU -7, but wouldn’t be too surprised if either team won by 10
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
I actually think South Carolina State should be embarrassed to have lost to these guys.
Seriously, Indiana looked like a Division II team so far this year, and I don’t mean FCS, either.
Indiana is the worst Division I team in the state unless I'm forgetting some absolutely horrid FCS team.
I think the only reason we don’t score 40 on Indiana this time around is that there’s always some reason the game is a little closer than it should be. Like in 2008 where we beat then 34-7, normally would be an impressive win, but Wisky and Illinois scored 55 on them and Iowa scored 45 on them. Our defense did hold them to 6 first downs and 180 yards of offense, though. It’s weird that a team that has never beaten us has always find a way to get a moral victory against us.
While I think Indiana plays us closer than they should as they always find a way to do that, there's no way they're as good as Temple.
Indiana is awful. Actually, awful is generous. Syracuse under GERG would have blown out the 2011 Hoosiers. They’re that bad. I hope you don’t actually think we’re worse than Syracuse under Greg Robinson.
21-3
PSU. They will continue run the ball into the line for 2 yards. Indiana’s offense does nothing. Boring game.
"I'll keep it short and sweet. Family. Religion. Friendship.
These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business."
"You don't want to analyze it...you want to admire it!" - Play by play guy on O.J. McDuffie TD catch against Ga. Tech.
by Esteban d' Amur on Sep 30, 2011 10:31 AM EDT reply actions
Well....
I got a wedding to attend tomorrow so very little college football for me.
I’ll be checking the Twitters at the church tomorrow so I hope you all have some interesting updates.
+1
We have little tranquility but tons of tranquilizers.
by mikeissurreal on Sep 30, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
5 for 5
First game – walk through cupcake park.
Second game – unwinnable trouncing.
Third game – Disturbing near loss.
Fourth game – second walk through cupcake park.
Fifth game – third walk through cupcake park.
When’s the first game actually worth watching? That’s the question.
It's a Penn State football game.
They are all worth watching.
With firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right
- A.Lincoln
by SarcasmJam on Sep 30, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
I wish I could rec this 1000 times.
"It's never a bad thing thing to vote for the suckiness of tOSU." -RWReese
Follow @Paige2PSU
I think Paige
found her new quote LOL
"Illegitimus non Carborundum!" (Don't let the bastards wear you down)
Sorta disturbing at the time
and I really could see Toledo beating Temple today, but that game was really only close on the scoreboard. When a road team comes in, has more yards, more first downs, fewer turnovers, a higher median-average yards per play, and holds a team to 10 points, 7 of which were on a gift wrapped TD following a PI call on a ball that should have been picked, that’s domination.
"I play for Penn State, we don't celebrate after TDs." - Penn State's Derek Moye, on being asked to act like he's celebrating a TD during a BTN shoot.
And don't forget if we had Fera as the kicker, we would have won 23-10.
So really we should have won by two TDs instead of just four points.
Directv for central North Carolina
will be showing Bethune-Cookman vs Miami for the 3:30 game tomorrow. That is just . . . painful to contemplate.
On the other hand, it looks like the Tivo part recognizes the Penn State-Indiana game is somewhere, because it is queued up to tape.
At least I can concentrate on the threads tomorrow . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
84,
scroll it back to noon, when our game is being played.
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by PSUinBOSSton on Sep 30, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew I liked this place!!
BlackShoeDiaries, that is.
Sorry, guys, these last few weeks have been miserable . . . .
Mark
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
I think we'll blow them out, but Indiana always finds a way to make it closer than it should be.
My prediction, we trail 7-0 early then take care of business to answer the question “Hoosier daddy?” everyone’s been wondering about Indiana football. They’ve never beaten us before, they couldn’t even do it in 2003 and 2004, so not a chance now.
Prediction
Penn State: 31 (add 7 points if whoever they start at QB panicks late)
Indiana: 14 (add 3 points if we turn the ball over inside the 30, subtract 7 points if we don’t put the backups in late).
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