Penn State football: Updated game-by-game predictions for 2020

The team that I think is the most underrated heading into this season in the Big Ten is the Indiana Hoosiers. This team had a breakout 2019 and it will be interesting if they can improve upon their eight wins last season while being stuck in the notoriously tough Big Ten East division with Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan.

The Hoosiers fielded an explosive offense behind freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and he will be looking to have an even better encore.

This is a game where the Nittany Lions better be very careful. The Hoosiers almost clipped them last year in Happy Valley, losing 34-27, and they believe that they are capable of pulling this upset. Expect a tight game, but Penn State’s talent wins out in the end.

Final Score: Penn State 31, Indiana 28 (1-0)

The game of the year in the Big Ten will  decide the winner of the Big Ten East and the winner will have the inside track to making it to the College Football Playoff. Penn State declared that they were a back in the national picture when they upset the Buckeyes in 2016 and rode that momentum to the Big Ten title.

The Nittany Lions suffered heartbreaking defeats in 2017 and 2018 to the Buckeyes and were no match for them last year. If Penn State wants to get to the playoff, it must win this game.

Penn State will have a few things going against them in this game. With the departure of linebacker Micah Parsons, the defense will take a hit and he would have been a very important defender versus Ohio State. Second, there will be no fans at games for Penn State and that will mean losing one of the best home-field advantages in all of football.

This will be a heavyweight matchup of two of the best teams in the country, but the Buckeyes will come out on top for the fourth straight season.

Final Score: Penn State 24, Ohio State 31 (1-1)