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Penn State seeking to make statement against Pitt

Penn State's DeAndre Thompkins (3) runs back a punt return for a touchdown against Akron during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)

A lot has changed since Pitt beat Penn State 42-39 last September.

The Nittany Lions find themselves back in the national spotlight following a run to the Big Ten championship and a thrilling Rose Bowl against USC, a result that few could have predicted.

Pitt had marquee wins against both Penn State and eventual national champion Clemson, but finished just 8-5 in coach Pat Narduzzi’s second season.

The Nittany Lions looked worthy of their preseason Top 10 ranking with a 52-0 drubbing of Akron last week, while Pitt needed overtime to beat FCS Youngstown State.

It could be argued that Pitt is trending in the right direction under Narduzzi, and this season will go along way in determining whether that trend continues going up or remains status quo (the Panthers have just one 10-win season since 1981).

What can’t be argued is that they are a big underdog in Happy Valley today (Penn State began as an 18-point favorite but that spread had moved to 21 1/2 by press time Friday).

Penn State coach James Franklin insists that this is just another game and everything he, his staff and players have said and done would make that appear to be the case.

Make no mistake, however, they want to rub Pitt’s nose in the dirt.

Not only do they want to avenge last season’s loss, but Franklin, since the moment he was hired, said that he wanted to ‘dominate the state’ on his way to bringing Penn State back to national prominence. It’s a mantra that Pitt fans predictably mocked after last season’s result.

Well, they have returned to national prominence and have done more than dominate the state in recruiting. They are competing on a national level, as evidenced by their current 2018 class that ranks anywhere from first to third nationally based on which service you look at and has 23 players from 12 different states.

There has been no shortage of chirping on social media among some of the assistant coaches on each side, and I think if Penn State gets up big they might wait a little longer to call off the dogs then they normally would. The animosity between the coaching staffs is very real.

The Penn State athletic department also picked this game to honor the 2016 Big 10 championship, not their first game of the season against Akron or a game against a Big 10 opponent – another sign that they’re intent on making a statement.

Of course, Pitt could spoil the freight train of momentum the Nittany Lions have by coming into Happy Valley and shocking the college football world.

The evidence would certainly speak to the contrary, however.

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How we pick the Game

Andy Close: Penn State 55, Pitt 21 – Penn State’s embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball is much more than just Saquon Barkley, although he may be the best player in college football. I think the Nittany Lions jump on the Panthers early and keep their foot on the pedal.

Brian Hagberg: Penn State 63, Pitt 14 – The Nittany Lions are healthy, experienced and comfortable with the schemes on both sides of the ball, three things they simply couldn’t say as they went in to Heinz Field a season ago. Pitt is essentially where Penn State was a season ago, especially with Jordan Whitehead suspended. The Panthers will keep it close early, but McSorley will exploit the secondary often in this one.

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