Predictions for College Football Week 2: Clash Between Penn State and FIU

Penn State Prepares for Tougher Opponent as Offense Shows Promise

The Penn State Nittany Lions, fresh off a dominant 46-11 victory over Nevada in Week 1, are gearing up for a more challenging matchup. The Lions, known for their strong running game and top-tier offensive line, will face off against Florida International University (FIU) next.

In their opening game, Penn State's offense struggled on the ground, managing just 135 yards and averaging 3.8 yards per rush attempt. However, quarterback Drew Allar showed flashes of brilliance, throwing a 31-yard pass. Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, two of Penn State's leading running backs, also made their mark, with Allen running for 43 yards and a score, and Singleton rushing for 19 yards and scoring twice.

On the other side, FIU's offense was in top form in their Week 1 game against Bethune-Cookman, scoring touchdowns on each of the first four drives. They won the game comfortably, with a final score of 42-9. However, they are expected to face a much tougher defense in their upcoming game against Penn State.

FIU's defense is ranked 106th in the nation in defensive SP+, a metric that measures a team's efficiency in preventing points. This could pose a challenge for the Lions, who will be looking to improve their ground game.

Despite the defensive challenge, the FIU offense is expected to score in the first half. Their team total is set at 6.5 points by FanDuel for the upcoming game.

Penn State's head coach, James Franklin, has expressed a desire for more explosive plays in their upcoming game. The Lions will need to find a way to overcome FIU's defense and make those plays happen.

Meanwhile, FIU is under new head coach Willie Simmons. Simmons will be looking to build on the momentum from their Week 1 victory as they take on one of the Big Ten's top teams.

In the running game, the identity of the leading running back for Penn State is not clear. However, it's certain that they have a deep and talented backfield, ready to take on the challenge posed by FIU's defense.

As for Bethune-Cookman, their running backs Marqui Johnson and Ali Scott Jr. put up respectable numbers in their Week 1 game, with Johnson running for 76 yards and Scott Jr. running for 29 yards.

The point spread provided by FanDuel has Penn State favored in the first quarter by 10.5 points. The Lions will be looking to live up to this expectation and secure another victory.