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The Granddaddy of Them All is the penultimate bowl game of bowl mania. The Rose Bowl in Los Angeles will pit the Big Ten against the Pac 12 once again. Penn State represents the Big Ten, while Utah comes from the Pac 12. This is Penn State’s 4th Rose Bowl appearance; they are 1-2 all time. This is the 2nd time Utah will play in the Rose Bowl, losing their only other appearance
When: Monday, January 2nd @ 5:00 PM ET
Where: Los Angeles, California
Who: Penn State vs. Utah
Spread & Total: Penn State -1; O/U 54
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Tale of the Take: Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State’s offense is relatively even between the pass (48.7%) and run (51.3%). Sean Clifford is in his 5th-year as a Penn State quarterback. This has arguably been Clifford’s best season with the Nittany Lions. 7.7 YPA, 22 touchdowns (6.7% touchdown rate) to just seven interceptions (2.1% interception rate). The Nittany Lions have a duo – Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen – at running back to lead the ground game. Penn State will be without top receiver Parker Washington, their leading receiver, as he prepares for the NFL Draft.
Penn State’s only two losses this season came to Ohio State and Michigan. Outside of those two games, Penn State only allowed over 20 points once, the season opener at Purdue. Excluding the Ohio State and Purdue games, they outscored Big Ten opponents 262-95. Seven of the Penn State 13 rushing touchdowns allowed were against Ohio State and Michigan. They will be without top cornerback Joey Porter Jr. He was a lockdown corner for the Nittany Lions and has decided to opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Opt Outs:
WR Parker Washington
(Leads team with 46 receptions and 611 yards. Missed the last two games. Ranks 9th in catches (146), 12th in receiving yards (1,920) and 16th in receiving touchdowns (12) in just 32 career games)
CB Joey Porter Jr.
(First Team All-Big Ten. Known as a shutdown corner, 2nd on team with eight pass deflections)
Injuries:
RB Keyvone Lee
(Backup; 25 carries for 94 yards)
WR Jaden Dottin
OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Transfer Portal Departures:
QB Christian Veilleux
DT Rodney McGraw
EDGE Davon Townley Jr.
CB Jeffrey Davis
Players to Know:
#10 RB Nicholas Singleton
Third Team All-Big Ten selection. True freshman leads the Penn State ground game. 149 carries for 941 rushing yards (6.3 YPC) and 10 touchdowns. Added 11 receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown
#97 DL PJ Mustipher
Second Team All-Big Ten selection. 34 tackles (1.0 for loss), adding a QB hurry on the season
Tale of the Tape: Utah Utes
Utah quarterback Cam Rising made leaps from his sophomore to junior season. 8.1 YPA, 66.2% completion rate, 6.9% touchdown rate to 1.9% interception rate. But the Utes will be without two key offensive pieces. Leading rusher Tavion Thomas has opted out of the bowl game. Led the team with 142 carries for 687 yards. Added seven rushing touchdowns. The Utes will have a trio of running backs to replace Thomas. Dalton Kincaid, Rising’s favorite target, has opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Devaughn Vele is the next guy up; Vele hauled in 50 receptions for 595 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Utah has allowed just 3.8 YPC on the ground this year. The Utes have forced 11 fumbles on defense. Utah is vulnerable to the pass, allowing 7.3 YPA. They have picked off opposing quarterbacks 12 times in 2022, tied for the 3rd most in the Pac 12. Their +8 in the turnover margin ranks tied for the 17th best in the country.
Opt Outs:
RB Tavion Thomas
(Leads the team with 142 carries for 687 yards and seven touchdowns)
TE Dalton Kincaid
(All-Pac 12 First Team selection. Leads team with 70 receptions for 890 yards (12.7 YPC) and eight touchdowns)
CB Clark Phillips III
(All-Pac 12 First Team selection. Six interceptions, tied for 3rd-most nationally. Two were returned for touchdowns. Six pass deflections ranks 2nd on the team)
Injuries: N/A
Transfer Portal Departures:
EDGE Tyler Wegis
LB Ethan Calvert
CB Malone Mataele
Player to Know:
#58 DT Junior Tafuna
Second Team All-Pac 12 selection. 26 tackles (2.5 for loss). Recorded an interception
#21 LB Karene Reid
Second Team All-Pac 12 selection. 3rd on the team with 68 tackles and four sacks. Recorded an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown
Bowl Game Trends:
- Pac 12 is 7-3 in L10 Rose Bowls vs. Big Ten
- The underdog is 5-5 SU in L10 Rose Bowls between Pac 12 and Big Ten
- Kyle Whittingham’s bowl game record at Utah: 11-4 (lost L3)
- James Franklin’s bowl record at Penn State: 3-4
Game Synopsis:
Utah went 2-3 in the conference regular season against bowl eligible teams; Penn State went 3-2. Utah is out their top two players in Kincaid and Phillips, and another key piece in Thomas. Penn State is down Porter Jr, but the Penn State offense has produced without Parker Washington, scoring 91 points the last two outings. Penn State has been outstanding this year in games they don’t play CFP semifinalists. I think they close the year with a Rose Bowl victory over the Utes.
Bowl Mania Pick To Win: Penn State
Bowl Mania Confidence: 23/43
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