Staff picks for Penn State vs. Indiana in Week 11

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The pain and agony of this Penn State football season is widely expected to continue this weekend against Indiana. The No. 2 Hoosiers are rolling into Happy Valley this weekend as a big favorite, a true rarity in this series between Penn State and Indiana. But is that unexpected with the way this seaosn has played out to this point? Of course not.

So, is there anyone brave enough to go out on a limb and predict Penn State coming out on top of the Hoosiers this weekend?

Here are our final score predictions for this weekend's home game against Indiana.

Sam: Penn State 17, Indiana 42

I can see this game playing out similarly to last week's game against Ohio State: Penn State hangs around in the first half, but they can't pull off the upset. I think Indiana is just too good on both sides of the football. Hoosier receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt are poised for big games, while the Nittany Lions will likely struggle to throw the football consistently against an elite passing defense. I think Penn State is better than its record would indicate, but it also is out-matched against Indiana. 

Christopher: Indiana 40, Penn State 13 

  • Offensive Players of the game: Kaytron Allen for Penn State, Elijah Sarratt for Indiana 
  • Defensive Players of the Game: Amare Campbell for Penn State, Aiden Fisher for Indiana

Yet again Penn State has a lofty challenge ahead of it. After succumbing to Ohio State last week on the road, they have to face the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana is basically good at everything that can worry Penn State: strong quarterback play, strong outside receivers, and a stout run defense. Penn State will have its hands full from minute one trying to stop all that multiplicity. I don't think even a sold secondary would be able to slow down both Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt. Nor do I think a defensive line that has struggled with pressure and stopping the run can stop one of the best QBs in college football. This one easily becomes a laugher midway through the second quarter. 

Kevin: Penn State 24, Indiana 23

  • Offensive player of the game: Kaytron Allen
  • Defensive player of the week: Dani Dennis-Sutton

Yep, I'm doing it. I'm going on the record and predicting a major upset. There is part of me that knows this Penn State team is capable of playing on the same field as some of these top-ranked teams, and I think we see some good fight from them this weekend. Indiana is legitimately great, but nobody is running the table in college football this season. Indiana is still going to head ot the Big Ten championship game, but a surprisingly effective offensive effort from Penn State ensures they do so with one loss. Call me crazy, or call me dumb. I'll stand by this upset pick (and probably regret it later).

See our Week 11 Big Ten picks for the rest of this weekend's conference schedule.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Staff picks for Penn State vs. Indiana in Week 11

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