Penn State-Northwestern preview, analysis and (surprise) pick

Penn State-Northwestern is a big game at Beaver Stadium. Bob Wischusen and Dan Orlovsky will call it. Kris Budden will be on the sideline.

Penn State is 4-0, 1-1 in the Big Ten and Northwestern is 1 of 3 in Big League.

Penn State beat Central Michigan 33-14 last week. Northwestern lost to Miami (Ohio) 17- 14.

Penn State leads 14-5-7. The last meeting was 31- 7 at Northwestern on October 7, 2017.

Northwestern's best player is OT Pete Skoronski, the top-ranked player at his position in the 2023 NFL draft.

Northwestern starting safety Coco Azema left last week's game with an undisclosed injury and is questionable to play this week. For Penn State, RB Keyvone Lee and OG Hunter Nourzad missed last weekend's match with a leg injury.

Penn State is a 24.5-point favorite against Northwestern.

Penn State plays Northwestern. Northwestern is in a rebuilding mode. The Wildcats have a history of wild swings from season-to-season. Penn State has been better than expected this season. It has a difficult schedule, starting with a trip to Michigan. It also has difficult games against Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan State. In close games, the Nittany Lions' kicking game has not been good.