WVU Depth Chart vs. No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions
Depth Chart
Offense
| Position | Starter | Backup | |---|---|---| | Quarterback | JT Daniels | Garrett Greene | | Running Back | CJ Donaldson | Justin Johnson | | Wide Receiver | Bryce Ford-Wheaton | Kaden Prather | | Tight End | Mike O'Laughlin | Treylan Davis | | Offensive Line | Wyatt Milum, James Gmiter, Zach Frazier, Doug Nester, Nick Malone | Ja'Quay Hubbard, Mike Brooks, Tomas Rimac, J.J. Davis, Brandon Yates |
Defense
| Position | Starter | Backup | |---|---|---| | Defensive Line | Dante Stills, Jordan Jefferson, Sean Fitzgerald | Taijh Alston, Jordan White, Jacolby Spells | | Linebacker | Lance Dixon, Exree Loe, Jared Bartlett | Lee Kpogba, Josiah Allick, Jalen Thornton | | Cornerback | Charles Woods, Wesley McCormick | Nicktroy Fortune, Andrew Wilson-Lamp | | Safety | Jasir Cox, Aubrey Burks | Noah Guzman, Marcis Floyd |
Special Teams
| Position | Starter | Backup | |---|---|---| | Placekicker | Casey Legg | Evan Staley | | Punter | Kolton McGhee | C.J. Donaldson | | Kick Returner | Kaden Prather | Sam James | | Punt Returner | Bryce Ford-Wheaton | Winston Wright |
Scouting Report
Penn State enters the game as an 8-point favorite, but WVU has a chance to pull off the upset if they can control the line of scrimmage and limit turnovers.
WVU's Strengths
* Strong running game led by CJ Donaldson * Experienced offensive line * Talented pass rush led by Dante Stills
WVU's Weaknesses
* Inexperienced quarterback in JT Daniels * Secondary that has been susceptible to big plays * Special teams unit that has been inconsistent
Penn State's Strengths
* Dynamic offense led by quarterback Sean Clifford * Strong defense that is ranked among the top 10 in the country * Special teams that are among the best in the Big Ten
Penn State's Weaknesses
* Offensive line that has been inconsistent at times * Linebackers that can be exploited in coverage * Cornerbacks that are susceptible to misdirection
Key Matchups
* WVU's offensive line vs. Penn State's defensive line * WVU's secondary vs. Penn State's wide receivers * WVU's special teams vs. Penn State's special teams
Prediction
This is a tough game to call, but I think Penn State will ultimately win by a score of 27-20. The Nittany Lions have the more talented and experienced team, and they should be able to exploit WVU's weaknesses. However, the Mountaineers have a chance to pull off the upset if they can control the line of scrimmage and limit turnovers.
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