Penn State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2018
8. Iowa, October 27, University Park, PA
Iowa always seems to play to the level of their opponent. This will be a difficult home game for the Nittany Lions, who will likely be everyone’s enemy as one of the top teams in the nation.
The Hawkeyes finished last season with an 8-5 overall record and a 4-4 record in the Big 10. Their biggest win of the season came against Ohio State when they won 55-24 in a surprise blowout.
They finished last season with a win in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College, but they may take a step back from last season. They lost star running back Akrum Wadley, who is now fighting for a roster spot with the Tennessee Titans in the NFL.
Wadley scored two of Iowa’s three touchdowns last season against Penn State, which both came in the fourth quarter. His heroics, along with senior linebacker Josey Jewell‘s 16 tackles and three tackles for loss, almost gave Iowa the victory over No. 4 Penn State.
This season, Penn State no longer has to deal with Wadley or Jewell, and they should win this game fairly easily as a warmup for a challenging game at the Big House against Michigan.