Photo: Derek Tam
What: Northwestern vs. #12 Penn State
Where: Ryan Field
When: 3:30 pm kickoff
How to watch: By being at the game, no excuses this time-afternoon kickoff gives you plenty of time to tailgate and get in costume. Now, onto the predictions.
Aaron Morse: Northwestern 21 Penn State 10
Spooky things happen on Halloween
Wade Askew: Northwestern 27 Penn State 24
Why? Because I’m crazy. Because for the first time all year NU will play a complete game for 60 minutes. Because last week, NU finally showed some semblance of a running game. Because as banged up as it is, the defense has still proved that it can be dominant in stretches. And because it’s a night game on Halloween, so something a little nuts is bound to happen.
Andrew Gothelf: Northwestern 26 Penn State 25
I’ll stick with the one-point theme from last week, hold my breath for the next 48 hours, and hope for the best.
Abe Schwadron: Penn State 31 Northwestern 18
I don’t know what I’m more confident about — that Penn State will come away with the win on Saturday, or that Aaron Morse will pick the Wildcats to win.
Matt Murray: Penn State 34 Northwestern 17
This isn’t really a trick game for Penn State since QB Daryll Clark will be treating himself to Northwestern’s broken second-string secondary. Former Wildcat Darnell Autry may be the one painted purple on Saturday, but it’s Carpenter, Weina, Mabin and Peters who will be really purple in the face.
Kevin Fishbain: Northwestern 27 Penn State 21
The Nittany Lions have played one good team this year, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and they lost 21-10. And, they haven’t faced Zeke Markshausen yet. Something tells me the purple faithful will be rushing the field to begin their Halloween night.
Stephen Woldenberg: Penn State 34 Northwestern 13
Anytime confidence builds around Northwestern football, bad things tend to happen. Penn State lets NU hang around in the first half, but shows why they’re a top tier team by blowing out the ‘Cats in the second.
Adam Fusfeld:
JoPa and the 12th ranked Nittany Lions are coming to town
And the obvious forecast is appropriately spooky – an NU beat-down.
But the ghosts of Halloween will surely throw all stats to waste –
Even imposing Penn State’s single-digit-points-allowed pace.
Last week’s great comeback caught the national media’s eye
Our kicker was pictured in the Times and our QB in SI
So look for the Wildcats to parlay their growing momentum
All the way into the 4th quarter; an upset will seem like no problem.
Unfortunately, that’s all part of Daryll Clark’s October 31st gimmick
The treat is to Penn State fans and the purple faithful get just a trick.
Ultimately, their beloved football team goes down twenty-seven to twenty four
Just another heartbreaking defeat, and another meaningless bowl, for sure.
you mean to tell me that four of your so-called “sports experts” picked Northwestern?
“Experts” hahahaha. Child, please! Once Penn State steps on the field, NU might as well kiss the baby.
Where’s Matt Murray’s preview? At least his prediction will be right…