No. 3 Penn State is gearing up for its largest take a look at of the season towards No. 1 Oregon within the Large Ten Championship recreation on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, CBS) in Indianapolis. Nittany Lions followers understand how necessary the standard suspects can be on this matchup.
QB Drew Allar, tight finish Tyler Warren, RB Nicholas Singleton and DE Abdul Carter should convey their “A” recreation for Penn State — a 3.5-point underdog, per BetMGM.com as of Friday — to have an opportunity of pulling off the upset. However what in regards to the different essential matchups on each side of the ball?
Let’s break down three under-the-radar X components for Penn State (11-1) towards Oregon (12-0).
Omari Evans | huge receiver
Penn State’s passing assault is centered on one man, Warren. The star tight finish reeled in 81 catches for 978 yards and 6 touchdowns within the common season. No different Nittany Lions pass-catcher had greater than 35 catches and 579 yards receiving.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has a 12 months’s price of recreation tape displaying him how necessary Warren is to this offense, so the Geese’ defensive preparation this week can be targeted on shutting him down and making different pass-catchers beat them.
Harrison Wallace III, the group’s second-leading receiver, missed final week’s recreation towards Maryland with an undisclosed harm. The junior won’t be capable to swimsuit up, and if he does, he will not be working at one hundred pc. That opens up an enormous alternative for Evans, who’s operated primarily as Penn State’s deep menace this season.
Evans leads the group in yards per reception (18.8), however that has come on solely 18 catches in 12 video games. The Nittany Lions want Evans to be extra lively within the passing recreation Saturday.
