Need a brief primer before you attempt to watch all 40 bowl games this season? We’ve got you covered. Here are three things you need to know about the Rose Bowl.
THE ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
Penn State (11-2) vs. USC (9-3)
Jan. 2, 5 p.m. ET
ESPN
– Penn State is down two starters with the suspensions of wide receiver Saeed Blacknall and linebacker Manny Bowen. The two players were suspended earlier in the week for violating team rules.
The loss of Blacknall is a blow to a Penn State passing game that has been quite prolific in 2016. Quarterback Trace McSorley likes to throw down the field and Blacknall has been the team’s best deep threat. He has just 15 catches this season in eight games, but is averaging 23 yards a catch and three of the receptions have gone for touchdowns. He had six catches for 155 yards and two scores in the Big Ten title game win over Wisconsin.
Penn State’s linebacker situation has been in flux at times this season due to injuries, but Bowen has been a constant. He has missed just one game (so far) and has 8.5 tackles for loss.
– Can Southern Cal stop Penn State running back Saquon Barkley? The Trojans have allowed 134 yards per game on the ground at 3.9 yards a carry. Barkley has 1,302 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
If USC can limit Barkley’s production, it seems doubtful Penn State can have any semblance of a rushing attack outside of him. Barkley has 247 of Penn State’s 507 recorded carries in 2016, but everyone else on the team combined has rushed for 893 yards.
– Penn State’s defense is ranked No. 30 in the country in pass efficiency against. But USC quarterback Sam Darnold has been really damn efficient.
Since taking over as the full-time starter four games into the season, Darnold has completed at least 62 percent of his passes in every game. And he’s finished two games with a completion percentage of 70 percent or higher.
Maybe the key for Penn State’s defense will be turnovers. Darnold has thrown eight interceptions this season and four of them have come in USC’s last three games. He threw two picks vs. Washington and two against UCLA.
Mascot prediction: A Trojan vs. a Nittany Lion is fun. A lion is, well, a lion, and a trojan has armour and a sword. Edge goes to the human with a weapon unless the lion does a sneak attack.
Real predictions
Graham Watson: USC 38, Penn State 28
Nick Bromberg: Penn State 27, USC 24
Sam Cooper: Penn State 38, USC 34
Chris Herbert: USC 35, Penn State 32
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
