Penn State Football: Way too early game-by-game predictions for 2018
By Shane Lunnen
The schedule makers did Penn State a favor. They get Kent State and Illinois in back to back weeks, the worst teams they will face all year. Although they will have to play Illinois on the road, it should not be too difficult to pick up a victory.
Illinois has been woeful under head coach Lovie Smith, going 3-9 in 2016 and 2-10 this past season. The Illini are on a 10 game losing streak, although they could break the losing streak before they meet the Nittany Lions. Illinois and Penn State have not played each other since 2015, with the Lions scoring the shutout 39-0 in Happy Valley.
With the retirement of quarterback Chayce Crouch and Jeff George Jr. announcing his plans to transfer, it leaves the door open for true freshman Cam Thomas to take over the starting duties next season. Thomas did not look good in his limited action in four games last season, completing only 42 percent of his passes on 66 attempts. He threw zero touchdowns to five interceptions. Perhaps with an off-season under his belt and some direction under new offensive coordinator Rod Smith, he will improve.
In Penn State’s first ever Friday night game, the Lions will cruise. Trace McSorley will catch fire, throwing for over 300 yards against an undermanned defense. He’ll also throw four touchdown passes, three of them going to breakout star wideout Juwan Johnson. Sanders adds a couple more scores on the ground and it is over quickly in Champaign. Because of the Friday kickoff, the Lions will get an extra day to prepare for the big test ahead.