Alabama Crimson Tide at Penn St Nittany Lions
Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
Saturday, September 10, 2011, 3:30 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
Opening Line: Alabama -10
Current Line: Alabama -10
Opening Total: 43 1/2
Current Total: 41 1/2
Opening Money Line: Alabama -400 / Penn St +330
Current Money Line: Alabama -400 / Penn St +330

Two of college football’s most prestigious programs meet for the 15th time, as Alabama travels to Penn St for the first time since 1989. Alabama leads the series 9-5 including a 24-3 victory at Tuscaloosa last year. The Crimson Tide are 3-2 in University Park. Legendary Penn St coach Joe Paterno has been on the sidelines for all 14 meetings in a series that dates back to 1959, when Paterno was an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions. The two teams met for the National Championship in the 1978 Sugar Bowl with Alabama coming out on top.

Both schools opened up the season with easy wins over cupcakes. Coach Nick Saban and Alabama crushed Kent St 48-7 at home and Penn St destroyed Indiana St 41-7. Paterno fractured his hip in a collision with a player during training camp and coached the game last week from the press box, and will do the same this week. This is the only game this week between two ranked opponents. Alabama is ranked #3 in both polls and Penn St is ranked #23 in the coaches’ poll and #25 in the AP poll.

Despite winning by 41 points Alabama dropped from #2 to #3 in both polls mainly because #4 LSU dominated #3 Oregon and impressed the poll voters more than the Tide did. Alabama rolled up 482 yards against Kent St in the 48-7 rout. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Tide as they turned the ball over 5 times, including 4 interceptions. Quarterback A.J. McCarron was 14 for 23 with 226 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions. Phillip Sims was also given some snaps at quarterback. Sims was 7 for 14 with 73 yards and 2 interceptions. Both quarterbacks are expected to play versus Penn St. Running Back Trent Richardson had 13 carries for 37 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 1 catch for 16 yards. Jalston Fowler had 4 carries for 69 yards and a 49 yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. Eddy Lacy had 8 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also had 3 catches for 76 yards. Alabama rushed for 183 yards against Kent St. Receiver Marquise Maze had 118 yards and 8 catches, including a 24 yard touchdown pass. Maze also had 135 return yards on kicks and punts. Kicker Jeremy Shelley was 2 for 2 on field goals including a 36 yarder, and was 6 for 6 on extra points. Cade Foster missed a long 50+ yard field goal in his only kick of the day.

Alabama was smothering on defense against the woeful Golden Flashes. The Crimson Tide allowed only 90 total yards including -9 rushing yards. Alabama held Kent St to 6 first downs and 5 for 24 on third and fourth downs. Alabama had 7 tackles for loss, including 4 sacks. The Tide only forced one turnover, but it didn’t really matter, obviously.

Like Alabama, Penn St used two quarterbacks in their 41-7 rout of Indiana St, and will use both against the Tide as well. Matthew McGloin was 6 for 8 for 77 yards with no touchdowns or picks. He had one carry for -8 yards. Rob Bolden was 6 for 12 with 37 yards and no touchdowns or picks. He also had 4 carries for -4 yards. Both quarterbacks combined for only 114 yards, but the Nittany Lions did most of their damage with the running game. Penn St had 245 yards and 5 rushing touchdowns. Running back Silas Redd had 12 carries for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Joe Suhey and Shane McGregor also had touchdown runs. Receiver Derek Moye had 4 catches for 57 yards. No other Penn St receiver had more than 16 receiving yards. Wide receiver Evan Lewis handled most of the kicking missing 2 field goals and one of the 5 extra points he tried. Sam Ficken made an extra point in his only action of the game. Chaz Powell returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown for the Lions. Penn St did have 7 penalties, which is something they need to work on before the Alabama game. Penn St was 2 for 10 on third downs, another potential problem area.

Penn St was almost as dominant on defense as Alabama was allowing only 170 total yards including 65 rushing yards. Indiana St had only 8 first downs and was 3 for 15 on third down. Penn St had 7 tackles for loss including 2 sacks. Penn St also forced 3 turnovers.

Alabama has covered the spread the last 7 times in non-conference games. They covered the spread and the game went under last year in Alabama’s 24-3 victory over Penn St. Alabama is 7-0 ATS in their last seven September games, and are 4-1 ATS in their last five as a favorite. Alabama is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS win, and1-4  ATS in games following a 20+ point win. Penn St is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 as an underdog, and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 September games.

This should be a very physical game. Don’t expect a lot of points as both defenses are very stout and none of the 4 quarterbacks have really distinguished themselves. Both teams should run the ball for most of their offenses. I expect a close defensive struggle between two hard nosed teams.

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