1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: Welcome back into the Penn State Pulse. I'm your host, 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Dylan Dawson. The Unitti Lions have a huge matchup that 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: awaits them across the country this Saturday, as they travel 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: to take on USC in a three thirty matchup on CBS, 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: which of course will be twelve thirty local time out 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: there in SoCal. The betting line on this thing currently 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: sits at Penn State minus four. I've seen it as 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: low as two and a half and as high as 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: five and a half or six a day or two ago. 10 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: This feels very much like a game that will sort 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: of determine if Penn State is a legitimate championship contender 12 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: this season. USC dropped their recent game to Minnesota, so 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 1: they fell out of the rankings completely, but they are 14 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: a few plays away from being a top ten team. 15 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: They were eleven last week. This is a very good 16 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: team that PSU has to play on the road across 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 1: multiple time zones. This stat has been floating around quite 18 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: a bit. I'm sure some of you have seen. I 19 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: figured that i'd share that Big ten teams are one 20 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: in eight this season when traveling across multiple time zones 21 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: to play a road conference game. Which is of course 22 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: what PSU is doing this week. That stat is a 23 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: bit overblown because when you look into it, most of 24 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: those losses were expected or they were favored to lose anyways, 25 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: regardless of the time zones. So it's not like those 26 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: were all upsets. But the stat is noteworthy regardless. So 27 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: let's get this thing started by highlighting some USC players 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on this Saturday. Miller Moss is, 29 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: of course, their guy at QB, who is one of 30 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: the top in the conference at his position. Moss has 31 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: thrown for about fourteen hundred yards and nine touchdowns through 32 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: five games. He's not really a dual threat guy, but 33 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: he can take off and burn you with his legs 34 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: on occasion, so that's something Penn State and Tom Allen 35 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: will have to account for. He has been very accurate 36 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: for the majority of the season's sitting at about sixty 37 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: five percent completion percentage right now, but he has been 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: making some mistakes, especially under pressure. The USC offensive line 39 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: is probably the weakest link on this team, and they 40 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: haven't been able to give Miller Moss a clean pocket 41 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: very often. Moss has nine excuse me four picks this season, 42 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: and I believe a few fumbles as well, so he 43 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: can make the big play, but also the big mistake. 44 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: Speaking of mistakes, USC has made a lot of them 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: against the hiring competition they face this season. They have 46 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: committed two turnovers against Michigan, three against Wisconsin, and then 47 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: three last weekend against Minnesota. USC has a handful of weapons, 48 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: but their top pass catchers both reside in that receiver room, 49 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: and that would be Zachariah Branch and Jacoby Lane. Branch 50 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: is quite possibly the most explosive player in college football. 51 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: He is only a true sophomore, but he is good. 52 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: He's fast as explosive. He also has return duties for 53 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: the Trojans, so he returns kicks and punts. I believe 54 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: he's on has to crush his catch numbers from last year. 55 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: He had thirty one I believe all of last year. 56 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: He's already up to twenty one through five games. But 57 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: he has been somewhat suppressed on the season on that 58 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: explosive explosivetivity level. I think that could be due more 59 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: to the weapons emerging in the UFC offense, which allows them, 60 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: of course, to spread the ball around more. Branch actually 61 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: doesn't have a touchdown yet on the season, so he 62 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: is absolutely due for one. But twenty one catches for 63 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: two hundred and twenty seven yards are the numbers so 64 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:37,119 Speaker 1: far for Zacharie Branch. The Trojans' top wide receiver as 65 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: far as statistics go, would be Jacobe Lane. He is 66 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: more of a possession guy at about sixty four five, 67 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: but he can make the big play as well. He 68 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: also has twenty one catches on the year for two 69 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty four yards and four touchdowns. Running back 70 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: Wood he marks he is a playmaker. He'll definitely need 71 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: to be accounted for this weekend. Despite running behind a 72 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: struggling offensive line, Marks is averaging nearly six yards per carry. 73 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: So far, He's put up four hundred and sixty eight 74 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: yards and four touchdowns on the ground, and he's very 75 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,839 Speaker 1: involved in the pass game as well. He's actually caught 76 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: nineteen balls on the air, which is third on the 77 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: team behind the aforementioned duo of Branch and Lane. 78 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: What's up? Everybody's LeVar Arrington here, and you know we're 79 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: always keeping you up on game when it comes to 80 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: everything football, NFL, NCAA, that's right, you name it. But 81 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: let me tell you about something that'll take your game 82 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: day to a whole new level. That's bet DSi. That's right. 83 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: Bet DSi is spot where real fans cash in on 84 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 2: their knowledge. 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Use code UOG and start making those 98 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: picks count bet DSi where the real football fans win. 99 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: Moving on to the defense, I apologize if I pronounced 100 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: this name wrong, but at linebacker Easton Mascarinas Arnold is 101 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: the leading tackler on that Trojan defense. He has collected 102 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: thirty six so far on the year along with an interception. 103 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: He was a very effective playmaker last year as well 104 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: as an Oregon State Beaver, putting up one hundred and 105 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: six tackles on the year as well as two sacks 106 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: and two picks. This is his first season with USC 107 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: after spending his first two out there in Corvallis with 108 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: Oregon State. Safety Kamari Ramsey is one of their better dbs. 109 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: He has twenty tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack, and 110 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: a pass defense on the year. Right, let's now make 111 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: the transition into some predictions. A lot of you guys 112 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: know the drill at this point. I will give three 113 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: predictions as well as my pick for the final score. 114 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: So first up, this game will be a huge test 115 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: for the Penn State secondary. USC is very deep, very 116 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: talented at wide receiver, probably the second best wide receiver 117 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: room that Penn State will face all year, behind just 118 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: Ohio State, of course, and they're gonna air it out. 119 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: Miller Moss has been throwing like forty passes per game. 120 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: So this prediction is basically to say that the PSU 121 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: secondary will have a solid night but will also take 122 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: their lumps along the way. Give me two hundred and 123 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: fifty plus pass yards for USC quarterback Miller Moss, but 124 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: two interceptions for the Netty Lions. Next, as I briefly 125 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: mentioned early on in the pod, the Trojans offensive line 126 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: has become the far and away number one concern for 127 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: that team. It hasn't necessarily shown up too much on 128 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: the stat sheet, but that's because the poor O line 129 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: play has basically shifted USC's entire offensive approach. They have 130 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: masskeating that ball out very quickly before the pass rush 131 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: can get home, so that kind of hinders their strength 132 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: as an offense, which is the passing game. They don't 133 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: have the time to let those talented receivers get deep 134 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: downfield and allow the routes to develop, So I think 135 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: USC will have to at least try some that deeper 136 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: stuff this Saturday, which provides PSU edge rushers with some 137 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: opportunities to make some splash plays. So give me four 138 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: plus sacks, with at least one of those being a 139 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: strip for the Nitty Lions. Finally, this game appears to 140 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: be a great opportunity for the Penn State run game. 141 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: USC has been giving up quite a bit on the ground, 142 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: especially through the big play. Shout out to Land and 143 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: Tangwall for pulling this stat. The Trojans have given up 144 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: runs this season of sixty three, forty seven, forty one, 145 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: forty and thirty nine yards. Not sure about you, guys, 146 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: but Nick Singleton absolutely comes to mind for me in 147 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: that scenario. So with that being said, give me two 148 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: hundred plus yards on the ground for PSU and a 149 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: carry of fifty plus yards for mister Singleton. Finally, for 150 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: the score prediction, I am going with Penn State twenty seven, 151 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: USC seventeen. I think PSU tries to establish the run 152 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: and slow this game down. The Nitty Lions absolutely have 153 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: the advantage in the trenches in this matchup, so they'll 154 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: try to keep the key matchups in that area. Less 155 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: drives and less snaps for USC's offense means less opportunity 156 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: for their playmakers to make plays. Because of their loss 157 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: to Minnesota last weekend, the Trojans are now three and two, 158 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 1: and I'm not gonna lie that scares the hell out 159 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: of me. One more loss pretty much officially kills USC's 160 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: playoff chances, so they are backed into a corner now 161 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: Penn State is gonna get USC's best swing this Saturday, 162 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: so they'll need to be prepared and ready to go 163 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: from the jump. Penn State shows up and plays C 164 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 1: plus or B minus football, they will walk out of 165 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: the coliseum with a five to one record, so they 166 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: need to show up. They need to show up early 167 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: and be ready to go. So that is gonna do it. 168 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: For today's episode of the Penn State Pulse, Thank you 169 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: guys so much for tuning in, have a great weekend, 170 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: enjoy the game, and I will be back in front 171 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,960 Speaker 1: of the camera shortly after to recap what went down.