Rose Bowl Final Score: Penn State 35, Utah 21
I sure suck at predicting games these days. I had this one, the ROSE BOWL, damnit!, at 37-24, with the Utes on top. Just seemed like it would go down that way, but I began to think otherwise when late money drove the spread across the zero line. It had been Utah -2.5 for time immemorial, but then it suddenly swung to PSU -1.5. Whaaaaat? Do the wiseguys know something?
It didn’t help Utah that QB Cam Rising went down for the count in the third quarter. It was a clean hit that tweaked his knee. After a short while in the blue tent, he went to the locker room and showed up back on the sideline in street clothes.
Sean Clifford, meanwhile, had a brilliant swan song, exiting to an ovation in the fourth quarter to yield garbage time to his chosen (for now) successor, Drew Allar. Clifford’s line was the best this year, 16-22 for 279 yards and two TDs with no interceptions for a QBR of 92.4.
The Penn State rushing game was on point, with Nick Singleton ringing up 120 yards and two TDs. A long scamper of 87 yards increased his per carry average to 17.1 (just 7 carries). Kaytron Allen added 37 yards and a TD on 11 carries.
The mighty PSU defense forced two turnovers in the winning effort.
Boy, do I suck at predictions!
On that note, congratulations to the Nittany Lions on an excellent 11-2 season and thanks to all you readers for your continued participation in this wonderful, albeit obscure blog. Happy New Year to all, and I’ll see you when I see you!
