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D E C E M B E R   2 7 ,   2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 3 NATE BAUER 10-2 | Two of the nation's highest-scoring offenses will square off against defensive counterparts of equal measure when the Nittany Lions and Huskies meet in the Fi- esta Bowl. Although Penn State players, coaches and especially fans would have undoubtedly preferred a spot in the College Football Playoff, this matchup is still a worthy litmus test for a Nittany Lion program seeking validation against a top-15 opponent this season. Matchups between Penn State's offensive line and Washington's outstanding defensive front will be key, as will the Lions' ability to limit quarterback Jake Browning and his offensive playmak- ers. Each side has had critical injuries to overcome, but Penn State appears likely to be in a healthier spot come game time. This one looks like a coin flip to me, but given their relative good health, I'll give the Lions the slightest edge. | PENN STATE 35, WASHINGTON 34 PHIL GROSZ 10-2 | This could turn out to be one of the best bowl matchups of the 2017 postseason. It features a potent Penn State offense that averages 453.2 yards per game, ranks first in the Big Ten in passing and has the top-ranked quarterback in the conference in Trace McSorley. And did I mention that this offense is also blessed with a running back whom many regard as the best in the country in Saquon Barkley? Washington, mean- while, is ranked fiBh in the country in total defense and first in run defense. It's a matchup of strength against strength. Penn State has the best group of skill position players Wash- ington has faced all season. In their game at Ohio State, the Lions faced a front seven that is equal to or better than the Huskies' group, and they scored 38 points. That's why I'm giving them a slight edge here. | PENN STATE 38, WASHINGTON 27 MATT HERB 11-1 | Penn State has faced some rugged defenses this year, but it hasn't seen anyone like Vita Vea. At 6-foot-5, 340 pounds, Vea is the immovable object in the middle of Washington's Pac-12-leading defense. Do the Lions have an irresistible force to counter him? I'm not sure they do. They've got Saquon Barkley, but he's going to need some running room, and PSU's offensive line has struggled against lesser opponents than the Huskies. Another problem for Penn State is that Washington has an excellent QB in Jake Browning. The Lions have been lit up by several of the Big Ten's better pass-catch combos, and Browning-to-Dante Pettis is every bit as good as Tanner Lee-to-Stanley Morgan. To win this game, Penn State is going to need a heroic effort from Trace McSorley and great showings from the offensive and defensive lines. I'm not convinced it's going to go three for three. | WASHINGTON 34, PENN STATE 31 TIM OWEN 11-1 | Outside the playoffs, there aren't many bowl matchups more engaging than this one. It's the Big Ten's most dynamic passing offense against the Pac-12's stiffest defense. On special teams, it's the best kick returner on one team, with the best punt re- turner on the other. The ingredients for fireworks exist. On each sideline is a head coach who has been at his school now for almost four complete seasons and has his program trending into the fringes of the nation's elite. That's not to mention how both James Franklin and Chris Petersen have degrees in psychology. The latter parallel might have little to do with this outcome, but in a game so evenly matched, I do think this comes down to which coach better absorbs the departure of his offensive coordinator, as both recently leB for new jobs. Against this Husky defense, I think it's a taller task for PSU. | PENN STATE 31, WASHINGTON 27 RYAN SNYDER 10-2 | When it was announced that Penn State would be playing Wash- ington in the Fiesta Bowl, quite a few Nittany Lion fans seemed disappointed with the matchup. I also had mixed feelings at first, but when you take a closer look at the Huskies, this could end up being a tough test for PSU. Washington has the top-ranked rushing de- fense in the country. We've seen teams shut down Saquon Barkley multiple times this season, but the Lions have had an entire month to prepare. On the other side of the ball, QB Jake Browning has been solid. The Huskies finished with the 17th-ranked scoring of- fense (36.9 points per game), so I expect them to challenge the Lions on both sides of the ball. When you add in the fact that Penn State will breaking in a new offensive coordina- tor, I think this could be a tough draw for the Lions. | WASHINGTON 38, PENN STATE 31 S T A F F P R E D I C T I O N S that Love enjoyed is an open question. He didn't have much luck in the latter half of the season, topping 100 yards only twice in Penn State's final eight games. Some analysts have likened this game to the Lions' visit to Ohio State, a 39-38 loss in which their skill position talent was plainly evident but their deficiencies on the offensive and defensive lines were exposed. On offense, they had trouble springing Barkley for big runs, as he finished with 44 yards on 21 carries. And on defense, they couldn't generate sufficient pressure on Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett, sacking him only twice and allowing him to com- plete 33 of 39 passes for 328 yards. The Huskies have some of the Pac-12's better skill players in Browning, Pettis and running back Myles Gaskin, but their suc- cess on both sides of the ball is predicated on tough play in the trenches. Among their first-team All-Conference honorees were junior offensive tackle Kaleb McGary and senior center Coleman Shelton. In a 41-14 victory over Washington State in their reg- ular-season finale, the Huskies rushed for 328 yards while holding the Cougars to minus-24. Washington's offensive linemen "like to run the ball, and we ran the ball well" against Washington State, Petersen said. "Jake's arm got a little sore, being in the cold, not even using it. But it's a good prob- lem to have. It was awesome. I was really proud of those guys." Washington State was ranked 14th in the Associated Press poll at the time, giving Washington its only victory over a ranked opponent this season. That's one other consideration to bear in mind heading into the Fiesta Bowl. While both teams sport 10-2 records, the Nittany Lions compiled that mark against the fourth-toughest schedule in the country according to Teamrankings.com, while Washington played the 43rd-rated schedule. But the only game that really matters right now is the one on the immediate horizon – not just because it offers an op- portunity for a happy ending but because it has the potential to launch someone's off-season on an upbeat note. "You prefer the coaches not to go into the off-season with a bad taste in their mouth," Penn State coach James Franklin said. "The same for the fans and the media members and the administration. You want to end on a positive note. You want to be successful. You want to be 1-0. I don't think there's any doubt about the importance of that."

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