Giger

It won’t matter what Penn State’s offense does against Oregon if the Lions give up 45 points again, like they did in last year’s Big Ten championship game defeat.

My big key to this game, therefore, is the secret weapon Penn State hired during the offseason and paid a whopping salary of $3.1 million a year.

That would be defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who already knows plenty about the Ducks’ offense and what makes them quack.

Knowles faced Oregon twice last season while with Ohio State. His defense got shredded in the first game, a midseason 32-31 loss on the road, as the Buckeyes allowed 496 yards, including 341 passing yards by Dillon Gabriel.

The second meeting? Well, let’s just say Knowles made a lot of really good aadjustments.

In Ohio State’s 41-21 rout of the Ducks in the College Football Playoff, Oregon had just 276 yards. Gabriel still threw for 299, but the Buckeyes stuffed the run game, holding the Ducks to minus-23 yards.

The biggest reason I’m picking Penn State to win this week’s game is the White Out. The incredible atmosphere is worth, I believe, about 7-10 points extra per game for the Lions, and I simply cannot bring myself to pick against PSU in a whiteout game (against anyone other than Ohio State, that is).

The second biggest reason I’m picking Penn State to win is Knowles and the defense. Since he’s faced Oregon twice in the last 11 months, there’s probably no one who could be better prepared for what’s coming than him.

Knowing what’s coming and being able to stop it are two different things, of course. But Penn State’s defense should be fully prepared to play well in this game.

Knowles is a big upgrade over last year’s defensive coordinator, Tom Allen. With all due respect to Allen, Penn State got better when he left to go to Clemson, and you can see for yourself just how much the 1-3 Tigers are struggling on defense under Allen.

Remember, Allen had a superstar in Abdul Carter and still gave up 45 points to Oregon last year. How on earth does that happen?

Penn State’s defense has looked very good so far this season, but it’s tough to put any stock whatsoever into games against Nevada, FIU and Villanova. The biggest worry that any Penn State fan should have is that the ridiculously awful non-conference schedule did not prepare the team to play this kind of opponent.

Regardless, of the two sides of the ball, the defense has at least looked the part for Penn State this season. The offense, and especially Drew Allar, definitely underwhelmed in just about every facet playing such weak competition.

It’s my belief that if this game were being played anywhere else this week other than the White Out that Oregon would win. From what we’ve seen so far, the Ducks look like the better team overall.

But this is the White Out. Penn State has a good defense and a great defensive coordinator who has a lot of familiarity with this opponent. So, give me the Lions to win by 4-7 points.

Cory Giger hosts the new Blue & White Wrapup show following each Penn State game this season on 96.9 and 100.7 FM.