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College Football Predictions 2018: Picks for the biggest games of Week 9

By John Mitchell

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: Elijah Holyfield #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs dives into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field on October 28, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. Georgia defeated Florida 42-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: Elijah Holyfield #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs dives into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field on October 28, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. Georgia defeated Florida 42-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State (3:30 PM ET, ESPN)

Spread: Penn State -6.5

This is the toughest game remaining on Iowa’s schedule; a win on the road in Happy Valley would give the Hawkeyes a significant boost toward a berth in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games even if they are unable to capture the Big Ten West.

Penn State hasn’t really recovered since its fourth quarter collapse against Ohio State. Since then, they dropped a home game against Michigan State and then got everything they could handle on the road against Indiana last week. James Franklin’s squad is in the midst of a brutal stretch that will continue through the second weekend of November as they go to Michigan and host Wisconsin over the next two weeks after this.

If Penn State wants to stay alive in the New Year’s Six race, it is imperative that they get this win over Iowa. In order to do so, they will need improved play from their quarterback, senior Trace McSorley. He has regressed as a passer in his final campaign in Happy Valley. He has completed just 54% of his passes this season, down from 66.5% last season.

Part of the problem has been Penn State’s inability to find a No. 1 wide receiver, and as good as Miles Sanders has been as a runner, he hasn’t been the same threat in the passing game as Saquon Barkley was. Penn State did make it a point last week to get Sanders more involved in the passing game, though, so maybe that trend will continue.

McSorley will find life tough this week against an Iowa pass rush that boasts two guys – bookends A.J. Epenesa and Anthony Nelson – who rank in the top five in the conference in sacks. They’ll look to pressure the quarterback and force bad decisions.

This will probably be a low-scoring game, but I don’t think Iowa has enough offensive to take advantage of Penn State’s defensive deficiencies. Look for the Nittany Lions to come out on top in a close one at home.

Pick: Penn State 21, Iowa 17

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