Lines For College Football – Defending National Champions Welcome Penn State

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide will hose the Penn State Nittany Lions in one of the more intriguing match ups of week two. A couple of prominent head coaches square off in Joe Paterno and Nick Saban, only one will have a much more talented roster than the other. 

Penn State Nittany Lions @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday September 11, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Broadcast: ABC
Lines For College Football: Alabama -12
Total: 44

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Handicapping Lines For College Football: What Penn State Will Have To Do To Win 

The Nittany Lions opened the season with a big win over Youngstown State, beating the Penguins of the MVC with a pass-heavy attack that played to their opponent’s weaknesses. Penn State actually trailed 7-3 early on in this game, but coach Paterno made sure that didn’t last long, scoring 41 unanswered points to win their ninth straight season opener. Paterno decided to go with true freshman Robert Bolden at quarterback, and although many media types are already raving that it was a good decision based on week one, too much stock may have been put in an average performance against a relatively weak team. Bolden threw for 239 yards, and despite two touchdowns he also threw a pick, so how that can serve as the basis for judgment on whether the choice was good or not is beyond this writer. Alabama will put a lot more pressure on the pivot, and Bolden will have to respond with a solid performance to keep this once close. 

Handicapping Lines For College Football: What Alabama Will Have To Do To Win 

The Crimson Tide are rolling, and it is difficult to figure out how they could possibly have their streak of 25 straight regular season wins ended this week. Coach Saban has his team prepared on both sides of the ball every game, and knows how to win even with his best players watching from the sidelines, as was the case in Alabama’s opening week win over San Jose State. The Crimson Tide host Penn State and Duke, before traveling to Arkansas and South Carolina as book ends to their home game against Florida, so this will be their chance to make sure that they are ready for other nationally ranked teams. Running back Mark Ingram is unlikely to play this week, but that shouldn’t matter with Eddie Lacy leading the way on the ground. 

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & Pick 

Alabama faces the first true test of 2010-11 as they open their schedule versus nationally ranked opponents on their quest for a second straight undefeated season. The Crimson Tide are stacked on both sides of the ball, and may actually be a more talented team this season than they were when they won the national championship a year ago. Penn State will struggle to keep this one close, as the Crimson Tide make a statement. 

Betting The Lines For College Football: Alabama -12