Sounds about right. Probably lots of change between now and then with four games under our belts.

Oregon Ducks vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Odds Revealed

That's basically a pick-em but giving Penn State home field advantage which is what they have.

Hoping that Oregon's defense can actually slow their run game this time around and our offense does what it did to them last year, considering we don't have Tez or Gabriel anymore.

Penn State rarely loses in Beaver (?) Stadium. At least 3 of the -4.5 points are home-field advantage. Yet in White Out games that are reserved for the Nits biggest home game, unless PSU is out-Foxed and Noonered like last season vs. Ohio State, the White Out record is 12-8.

Both of PSU's returning RBs, Singleton and Allen, rushed for over 100 yards in the champ game. Good thing for PSU as Allar finished 20-29, 226 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs. The leading receiver, TE Ty Warren, had 7 catches for 84 yards. The top WR had 54 yards in receptions.

Ty has left the building. PSU opened the wallet to attempt to improve at WR, zero WR receptions in the loss to Notre Dame, and on paper, the position has improved. But that's on paper. Has Allen improved? Like boss-man James Franklin, Allar has come up small in the biggest games.

One can only hope that Oregon's D will be better prepared for the PSU O. And by game 5, with a road game to Chicago included, the kinks on O should be ironed out. Plus, don't discount the impact of Forum Fanatics being at the game. 😁

If Mahki is the man and the O line plays as touted, we may see more of a ball control game from OBD. It's bad and sad for PSU that the hurdling Sadiq is back.

I wager that by kickoff the spread will come down to -3, the HFA only, A home game between two equals always puts more pressure on the home team and the Nitts are the one with a returning QB...and a returning coach who should be right there with Mario for COY consideration

For this old Duck fan, we can only hope the Duck O is firing on all cylinders when we take on PSU. PSU's defense will be one of the best we face in 2025. It may take 45 points to win this game.

The Ducks will field the talent necessary to light up the scoreboard. The first true test for the O line and whoever is under center.

But it's time that DL's Defense step up and play like a top 5 defense. If they do then the rest of College Football will be on notice.

GO DUCKS........

54 minutes ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

PSU's defense will be one of the best we face in 2025.

With a new coordinator and PSU's games before OBD won't test them.

4 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

If Mahki is the man and the O line plays as touted, we may see more of a ball control game from OBD.

If anything, I hope Will Stein learned he needs to score at least five touchdowns a game.

Until further notice, we don't have a defense that can hold an elite offense below 30 points. So every team we play that has an elite offense must face the pressure of scoring on every single one of their drive to win, because OBD will have to score on every single drive in order to win.

That's my take. I don't trust the defense to win games against elite teams. It happened once, and that was because DL exploited an unconventional rule, and Ohio State played right into that decision.

We have to assume every single title contender is as good as the 2019 LSU Tigers. We have to assume we must outscore that lethal of an offense.

So, I'm hoping Will Stein is taking lessons on dismantling the best defense ever created for college football.

We know OBD weakness. Our Achilles Heel is out defense.

Penn St schedule

Aug. 30 – Nevada

Sep. 6 – Florida International

Sep. 13 – Villanova

Sep. 20 – bye

Sep. 27 – Oregon

 

Oregon schedule

Aug. 30 – Montana St

Sep. 6 – Oklahoma St

Sep. 13 – at Northwestern

Sep. 20 – Oregon St

Sep. 27 – at Penn St

2 minutes ago, Mike West said:

We have to assume every single title contender is as good as the 2019 LSU Tigers. We have to assume we must outscore that lethal of an offense.

Ya know, a game between 2019 LSU and 2021 Georgia would be fascinating. I don't see any of the contenders in 2025 being as good on either side as those two. Having to outscore is not sustainable, so hopefully both sides will get better as the season goes on, that good ol measuring stick will show up at Penn State.

2 minutes ago, 30Duck said:

Ya know, a game between 2019 LSU and 2021 Georgia would be fascinating. I don't see any of the contenders in 2025 being as good on either side as those two. Having to outscore is not sustainable, so hopefully both sides will get better as the season goes on, that good ol measuring stick will show up at Penn State.

I totally agree. Both those offenses were lights out. The most dominant in the modern era, and nobody is close to that kind of talent.

I happen to think our scheme on defense, combined with what really has been subpar talent in the secondary, makes teams in that image, look like and score like those teams on the past three defenses DL has had at his disposal.

Heck, I'm worried Indiana is going to drop 35 on our defense. And they don't have an elite OL, or three elite WRs.

I watched the B1G title game last week. We made Penn State, who performed awfully against Ohio State, look like Ohio State looked against us. Penn State did not have a WR that could make our team last year.

I'm beginning to wonder if Lupoi and Stein go full blown timid in big games.

That Ohio State win is the only time I've seen DL actually be aggressive (well he actually did the same thing in Seattle, but Nix just happened to whiff three times in that game). He actually called out exactly what to do against Ohio State in the Ducks v Them video (which they promptly dropped as a strategy in the Rose Bowl).

Which brings me back to this year. We don't throw enough explosive routes. I expect five explosive pass catches a game. Two for TDs. Teams need to fear us like they did when Chip was HC. This time, it needs to be an explosive passing attack.

My opinion of course.

2 hours ago, Mike West said:

Heck, I'm worried Indiana is going to drop 35 on our defense. And they don't have an elite OL, or three elite WRs.

This I can't go with, no elite OL or WR's? If that can put up 35 than OBD will be fighting for their lives against Northwestern,

2 hours ago, Mike West said:

I'm beginning to wonder if Lupoi and Stein go full blown timid in big games.

The Rose Bowl showed how important a Coordinator is.

2 hours ago, Mike West said:

That Ohio State win is the only time I've seen DL actually be aggressive (well he actually did the same thing in Seattle, but Nix just happened to whiff three times in that game). He actually called out exactly what to do against Ohio State in the Ducks v Them video (which they promptly dropped as a strategy in the Rose Bowl).

Yes. The decisions against UW was Lanning playing his game, the way he wanted to. Decisions aren't bad because they didn't work.

2 hours ago, Mike West said:

Teams need to fear us like they did when Chip was HC.

I guess there was fear, but with Chip it was more just total bewilderment. 2019 LSU created fear, and I don't know if any passing attack is coming close to that one, but close will win games.

10 hours ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

For this old Duck fan, we can only hope the Duck O is firing on all cylinders when we take on PSU. PSU's defense will be one of the best we face in 2025. It may take 45 points to win this game.

Yikes, let's hope not. Since the current Beaver Stadium at Penn State was built in 1960 (in part out of reassembled remains from the old Beaver Stadium built in 1909), Penn State has never given up 45 points at home.

Actually, in Penn State's 129 year football history, it has never given up 45 points to an opponent while playing at home.

And I am being a bit silly. Penn State has given up 44 at home twice in its history, both recently (Nebraska in 2017 and tOSU in 2022). 🙂

Still, over 40 points may be a tough ask at Penn State. I believe in 30 out of the last 50 seasons, no opponents scored over 30 points in Beaver Stadium all season. I count 5 opponents over 40 since 1960.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by AnotherOD

IMO this game will revolve around the Duck QB position. If he becomes what his HS rating indicated Oregon could pull an upset. If he plays like he did in LA.....it will be a long day. The travel is tough but at least the Ducks are home prior to the game and will probably leave early and get settled. None of the prior games give a tough grinding game. Since it will be played at 7:30 in late September the game conditions should be ideal.....nice and crisp, perhaps high 50's and dry......and a crucial point.....Franklin has never been the kind of coach that adds points. He is not a bad coach but he is no Saban. Another huge factor.....Oregon....for the first time in the Lanning era has a Georgia type defensive front. The DE's are plentiful and scary. The interior is strong. I'd be shocked if anybody scores more than 35 points on Oregon this year and for most games.....24.