Wisconsin @ Penn State preview
Beaver Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2011 ) Penn State 7, Wisconsin 45
While Wisconsin may have an eye toward the upcoming Big Ten championship game, Penn State's unofficial bowl game comes Saturday when it hosts the Badgers. The NCAA sacked the Nittany Lions with a four-year postseason ban as part of the penalties for the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. Therefore, Saturday's regular-season finale versus Wisconsin serves as the finale for Penn State. The Nittany Lions posted a 45-22 victory over Indiana last week, but watched as Michael Mauti exited with a left knee injury. The talented senior linebacker is unlikely to play versus Wisconsin, which dropped a 21-14 overtime decision to Ohio State last week. The Buckeyes are also ineligible for the postseason because of NCAA violations, thereby pushing the third-place Badgers into the conference title game versus either Nebraska or Michigan.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Penn State -2.5
ABOUT WISCONSIN (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten): The expected loss of Mauti is good news for running back Montee Ball, who will secure sole possession of the career touchdown record with his next score. Ball nearly collected his 79th touchdown to move past Travis Prentice of Miami of Ohio (1999), but he fumbled at the goal line with three minutes remaining in regulation. Fifth-year senior quarterback Curt Phillips, who will make his third consecutive career start, showed poise by leading the Badgers to a game-tying touchdown with eight seconds remaining in regulation last week.
ABOUT PENN STATE (7-4, 5-2): Quarterback Matt McGloin was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award presented annually to the nation's top former walk-on. McGloin, who has thrown 23 touchdowns and rushed for five more this season, has found a familiar target in wideout Allen Robinson. The sophomore sits 106 yards shy of tying Bobby Engram's school mark for most receiving yards in a season. Engram had 1,084 yards in 1995. Robinson also needs two touchdowns to match Engram's single-season record of 13, which was set in 1993.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Should Mauti sit out, sophomore Mike Hull is expected to take his spot in the lineup.
2. The Badgers' four losses have been by a combined 16 points.
3. Wisconsin WR Jared Abbrederis was also one of the semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy.
PREDICTION: Penn State 24, Wisconsin 17