Staff Predictions Roundtable: No. 7 Penn State vs. UCLA

The No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions welcome* the UCLA Bruins on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Bruins aren’t having the year they hoped for in 2024, so that’s exactly how this game should end.

Chris

A week after a hard-fought night game against a top-25 opponent and a week before heading to a tough top-15 showdown, Penn State faces hapless UCLA. Does anyone have a trap game? Maybe, but the only real outcome I see here that suggests this is a trap game is if the Lions don’t win by “enough” margin.

The defense seems to have settled in, and the offense has realized that if they find something that works, they can just keep going until the other team stops them (that hasn’t happened yet). Even with a B or C level performance, I expect a comfortable win on Saturday. The best part of the game will be the uniform matchup, which will be one of the best of the entire season.

Penn State 34, UCLA 7

Lando

If Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen both don’t make it over 100 yards (so close last week!), I’ll be sad. Still, I think Penn State runs a similar game plan offensively, which results in fewer points (boo) than many would like to see on Saturday afternoon.

Defensively I’m going to give it my all and predict my first defensive touchdown. Oh, and whoever is the kicker kicks a field goal.

Penn State 38, UCLA 7 (Yes, the over is 44.5, why do you ask?)

Teller: Lando is a complete degenerate towards us.

Bennett

Disappointed, look forward for the Lions. But I think the Bruins have already covered a lot of miles in the air and the noon kick benefits the Lions too. Penn State is far more physical and I think Drew Allar is rebounding after a quiet performance against Illinois. Here’s my bold prediction: Luke Reynolds gets his first career touchdown as the Lions’ offense rediscovers some of the explosive plays that were limited by the Illini’s game plan last week.

Penn State 38, UCLA 10

Tim

UCLA’s QB Ethan Garbers has a brutal 1:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio (3 TDs, 6 INTs) and he is currently questionable for Saturday and hasn’t practiced at all this week. If he can’t go, then backup Justyn Martin, a man who has attempted five career passes, will make his first career start in front of over 107,000 screaming fans in Happy Valley. With no running game to save them and a porous defense in tow, this game could get ugly. Watch for the defense forcing at least two turnovers and the founding partners of Singleton & Allen both throwing for over 100 yards on the ground while Drew Allar bounces back with an outstanding performance through the air.

Penn State 45, UCLA 10

Colin

I can easily imagine a slow start stemming from a de facto White Out win last week and a midday kickoff. The rushing attack will continue to pave the way for the offense, and the defense will pick up right where it left off in the second half of the Illinois game. UCLA had a tough schedule, but the Bruins have too many deficiencies on offense to remain competitive. The matchup between the UCLA rush offense and PSU rush defense may have been the first time I’ve seen five chipmunks in Just the Stats.

And finally a home game day this season with little chance of precipitation!

Penn State 42, UCLA 10

Jared (first seen in the game preview)

Let’s start with the addictive parts of this game. It is a historic duel as it is the first time these programs have met since 1968. It will be the first time they meet as conference opponents and the first of the former PAC-12 teams that Penn State will face. It will also be a stunning combination of uniforms.

Other than that, I don’t expect a memorable contest. UCLA lacks the offensive firepower to keep up, and its defense won’t be able to do enough to make this a low-scoring affair, even if it is able to make some big plays, turnovers and a few to achieve happy ball bounces.

Penn State’s defense flexed its muscles last week and will be primed for a repeat performance behind a relentless pass rush and a secondary that has quickly proven itself despite trading away several starters and losing a potential All-American in safety KJ Winston. The Nittany Lions’ offense will feature a balanced attack and should find some explosive plays in the passing game against a Bruins secondary that has struggled to stop anyone this season.

Penn State is 5-0 heading into its big test against #11 USC next week.

Penn State 35, UCLA 6

Eli (“first” appearance in Big Ten preview)

Penn State will need to resolve its field goal kicking issues moving forward if it wants to achieve the goals the team has set for itself. I sincerely hope the backups are usable, and Sander Sahaydak has performed much better in practice than the alternative.

Regardless, the Lions probably won’t need too many field goals to win this game.

Penn State 56, UCLA 17

*Don’t say that in front of James Franklin