Penn State Nittany Lions at Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview

Opening point spread odds - total lines at 5Dimes : Nittany lions +11 / Crimson Tide -11 O/U TBA

Time: 7 PM EST Saturday September 11, 2010 on ESPN/ESPN3

The top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) had no problems in winning their 2010 opening season game, but now they will have a stiff test in facing the 14th ranked Nittany State Lions (1-0). PSU also had a blowout in their opener and they will move up, big time, in the rankings if they can beat a Tide team in Alabama that is loaded on offense and defense even thought they lost a few guys to the NFL.

Last week Penn State beat Youngstown State 44-14, but the Nittany Lions are 0-1 ATS since they did not cover the 39.5-point spread. Alabama beat San Jose State 48-3 and they are 1-0 ATS, as they did cover the 39-point spread.

For the Nittany Lions to snap Alabama's 25 game regular season win streak, which is the longest in the nation, they will have to play good all-around defense. The Crimson Tide offense is led by QB Greg McElroy (218 yards 1 TD last week). Alabama rushed for 257 yards and they were not even playing with defending Heisman winning RB Mark Ingram, who will likely suit up this week.

Penn State is known as Linebacker U, but while they lost their core guys they will still be strong at the position. They Nittany Lions have a great pass rush led by DL Jack Crawford and while they are great at pressuring the opposing QB they will have to stop the Tide's rushing offense. If they cannot do that they will lose this game.

Penn State has one of the best secondary units in the Big 10 and while Alabama' strength on offense is running the ball McElroy can air it out and his main target is WR Julius Jones, who is 6'4" and creates match up problems for any defense.

Penn State had 371 total yards of offense in their win over Youngstown State and while QB Robert Bolden looked good passing for 239 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT the Nittany Lion rushing attack was not impressive. RB's Evan Royster and Stephfon Green were supposed to give Penn State a great backfield tandem, but in the win over Youngstown State Green only picked up 32 yards and Royster only had 40 and averaged 3.6 yards per carry.

Green and Royster will have to play well for the Nittany Lions since Bolden is a freshman and will be pressured all game by the Crimson Tide D.

The Alabama defense lost quite a few starters, but the guys coming in have NFL talent and they are solid at both defending the run and the pass. The one weakness, and it is not a big one, is the secondary, so if Bolden has a good game the Nittany Lions may score an upset.

Alabama has all the tools to defend their National Championship, but if the Nittany Lions can defend the run and score some points they can win this game.

Our Selection : The Crimson Tide destroyed San Jose State 48-3 in their opener as a 38.5 favorite. However, the Nittany Lions are a far superior club than the Spartans. Alabama returns only 2 defensive starters from last season and while their depth was solid last season, the defense hasn't shown me anything yet. Penn State has lost only 1 game in their last 10 (Ohio St), so expect the Nittany Lions to keep this close throughout. Take Penn State +13 at Bodog.


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