Capital One Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions | Preview & Predictions

January 1, 2010 | 1:00 PM EST, Orlando, FL, on ABC

Capital One Bowl

LSU Tigers (9-3) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2)

Opening Line: Penn State -2.5 (current PSU -1)

Game Preview: Finally a non BCS game to get excited about.  Big Ten vs SEC with a couple of top ranked teams who with a little luck might have joined the BCS.  LSU wasn’t as intimidating as it has been but with the talent they have they can hand with or crush any team in the country.  They have never played Penn State before which makes this game even more compelling.  No one doubts that the Nittany Lions are good but they came up well short in the toughest games on their schedule something the Tigers are familiar with.  Who will rise to the top in this matchup.

LSU Preview: They still bring the hammer on defense but the offense didn’t hold up its share of the bargain.  In my mind they were way too conservative not giving their athletes a chance to make plays.  Against another top defense like PSU they might want to open it up more, what do they have to lose.  One way to do so would be by working in frosh QB Russell Sheppard, maybe even letting him throw a pass or two to keep PSU off balance.

Penn State Preview: These guys though they were poised to represent the conference in the BCS but they got trumped but Ohio State and even upstart Iowa.  This is still a very good team.  They have a great tandem in RB Evan Royster and QB Daryll Clark and a defense that  was fourth in the nation in points allowed.  They are going to need to play a complete game to beat the Tigers who have more top level athletes.  As expected the strength of the team are the LBs.  They better be in shape to chase the whole game.

Game Prediction: It will take the Nittany Lions a  quarter and a half to catch up to the speed that the Tigers are used to.  After that they should play even but by then it will be too late.

Score Prediction:

LSU Tigers – 28

Penn State Nittany Lions – 14

Pick: LSU is primed for a bustout and has historically done very well in bowl games under Les Miles.  I look for the Tigers to pull off the upset.