Iowa Preview

Penn State travels to it's "house of horrors" this weekend in Iowa City to take on the Hawkeye's. The game will be televised in prime time from Kinnick Stadium. The game will start at 7 p.m. CT and be telecast by the Big Ten Network. Kinnick Stadium has been a thorn in the side of the Nittany Lions season after season, and the Hawkeye's are ready to play spoiler again. The Hawkeye's play inspired, hard fought football under the lights and are nearly impossible to beat in home night games. Iowa has had Penn State's number in the series for the past decade, Kirk Ferentz (Iowa Head Coach) always seemed to game plan perfectly against Penn State. Both teams are entering the game playing their best football of the season. Penn State is coming off a much needed bye week so they should be healthy and well rested. Iowa is coming in off a huge win in overtime against Michigan State and should be excited and ready to play under the lights in Iowa City.

Prediction: Iowa has had Penn State's number in the past, but this is a new era at Penn State. Bill O'Brien is not Joe Paterno, the Lions will be ready to play against Iowa. With an injury to Iowa's star tailback Mark Weisman, Iowa will need to focus on the pass game to win against Penn State.There's no doubt Mark Weisman is Iowa's top offensive weapon, and for much of the past four games, he has been the Hawkeyes' only threat. The Air Force transfer has recorded four consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and a total of 623 yards and eight touchdowns during the span. But Weisman's status for Saturday night's showdown against Penn State is very much in doubt because of an ankle sprain he suffered last week at Michigan State. The pass game hasn't exactly been a strength for Iowa either,so the Penn State defense definitely has the edge with the Weisman injury. The Iowa defense is the best defense Penn State has faced thus far, so expect a low scoring hard fought game. The first team to 20 points will win this game. I see the Penn State run game being almost non-existent against Iowa,so they too will need good quarterback play to win the game. But that's where Penn State has the edge, Quarterback Matt McGloin has been playing exceptional football all year long, while Iowa's James Vandenberg has struggled all season long.

Matt McGloin connects for two touchdown passes, one to Allen Robinson, and Zwinak adds another close yardage rushing score as Penn State takes the win.
Penn State-21
Iowa-17