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Start Time: Saturday, September 1st 2018, 3:30PM
TV: Big Ten Network
Live Coverage: Appalachian State IMG Sports Network (97.3 WKBC FM in the high Country area), BTN+
Location: Beaver Stadium, Happy Valley PA
Betting Line: -23.5 Penn State O/U 54
*This is the first meeting in school history between the two programs.
Outlook & Prediction
Appalachian will begin the 2018 season taking on a Penn State team that feels like they are headed for another New Years Six bowl game with quarterback Trace McSorley calling the shots for James Franklin. The question mark on this Nittany Lions team will be on defense, where they must replace nine starters from 2017.
Appalachian will be breaking in a new defensive coordinator in this matchup and could possibly struggle early with the athletes that the Nittany Lions have all over the field. Everyone knows the tout going into this game will be 11 years since App shocked Michigan on the Big Ten Network. That is the network that will carry this game so tout will be of zero shortage.
In my season preview edition early on I pegged a Penn State 45-17 victory over Appalachian State and I pretty much feel the same way and feel that PSU will cover the 23 point spread easily. McSorley could have a day passing and not even play through the 3rd quarter. Go ahead and hope for some positive signs out of an App team that should be much better come G5 play after this week.