PSU vs. USC Preview and Thoughts

Time for my final preview and prediction for the 2016-7 Penn State football season! As you undoubtedly know, the #5 Nittany Lions (10-2) meet the #9 USC Trojans (9-3) in the Grandaddy of Them All, the Rose Bowl presented by some damn insurance company that paid dearly for the recognition.

What you’ve been reading here all year suggests that Penn State has created an enjoyable and eminently watchable season for us in order to give us our vicarious thrills, but they’re flawed and they’ve been lucky. True enough, but we’ve sure had some fun and some heart attacks due to their Second-Half Teamedness. Will I ever shut up about their flaws? Hell, no, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want them to win.

One thing I misunderestimated (thanks, George Bush) is the groundswell of confidence that had built within the Nittany Lions of 2016. They truly believe they can do anything. And for the past eight games, they sure as hell have put their money where their brains have been. [Read more…]