Penn State Hosts Minnesota With Hopes of Building Momentum

More than 50 players from Penn State’s 2016 team are expected to reunite at Beaver Stadium when the Nittany Lions host Minnesota on November 14. That team beat Minnesota 24-21 in overtime, a pivotal moment in Penn State’s season. This time, the stakes are lower, but Penn State is looking to build on its recent play after a difficult start to Big Ten action.

Two predictions favor Penn State, though they differ on the margin: one calls for a 27-23 win, the other a 31-13 victory. The forecasts point to receiver Chase Sowell as a possible standout after he caught four passes for 125 yards and a touchdown against Washington. Another pick anticipates a big game for receiver Brett Eskildsen, with quarterback Rocco Becht connecting with him for two long plays and two touchdowns.

Crowd size is another question. One estimate puts actual attendance at 65,000 to 70,000, while another expects a crowd similar to the Purdue game, which had an announced attendance of 102,041 but many open seats. Penn State is offering ticket and parking discounts. Kickoff temperatures are projected at 41 degrees.

If Penn State wins, the predictions say fans may focus on the team’s slow start and the possibility of ending 8-4 during Campbell’s debut year. With Rutgers and Maryland remaining on the regular-season schedule, a five-game winning streak is within reach. One forecast also points to a lost 17-0 lead against Wisconsin and Koby Howard’s injury as reasons fans may wonder how much better the season could have been.