Alabama @ Penn St Odds and Predictions – College Football Free Picks Saturday Week 2 NCAAF

Week 2 Free College Football Picks: Alabama Crimson Tide @ Penn St Nittany Lions 2011 NCAA Football Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions 9/10/11: A pair of nationally ranked teams will square off Saturday when the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Happy Valley to take on the No. 23 Penn State Nittany Lions. Both schools are trying to bounce back from disappointing seasons, and both are breaking in new starting quarterbacks. That being said, Alabama and Penn State still have lofty expectations this year, with the Crimson Tide eyeing a national title and the Nittany Lions looking to take the Big Ten title. With two of the greatest coaches in college football history calling the shots, both teams should be well prepared for this showdown. Coming off a 24-3 victory against Penn State last year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is favored by 9 ½ in this weekend’s game.

Both schools won easily in their respective season openers blowing out lesser competition. Alabama and Penn State both used multiple QBs in their victories and could do so again in Saturday’s contest. Without a clear cut starter for either side, this big stage is a golden opportunity for someone to step up and establish themselves as the leader of their team. For Alabama, A.J. McCarron and Philip Sims will split time under center, while Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin will do the same for Penn State. Of the four, McCarron showed the most promise in the opening week.

Whoever is running the show for the Crimson Tide is going to have the added advantage of handing off to running back Trent Richardson. After a three-touchdown performance against Kent State, he will look to add to his numbers against the Nittany Lions. Running behind one of the most experienced and talented offensive lines in the country, Richardson should be able to put up similar numbers to last season when he rushed for 144 yards and a score in the win against Penn State. McCarron will get a chance to make some plays, but the focal point of the Crimson Tide offense will be the power running game, and Nick Saban’s bunch has the personnel to make it work.

While Richardson will be the most-talented offensive player on the field Saturday, the Alabama defense is the best unit. Ten starters are back for a group that ranked in the top 10 nationally in most categories last season. The Crimson Tide defense gets a chance to flex its muscle against two inexperienced Penn State quarterbacks that barely topped 100 yards combined last weekend against Indiana State. Against a unit that could end up being the best in the nation, the Nittany Lions offense could find it difficult to move the ball and even tougher to put points on the board.

Joe Paterno’s team does have home field advantage on its side. Beaver Stadium is one of the tougher places to play, especially for a quarterback making his first career road start. However, the Richardson and the Crimson Tide defense aren’t going to be intimidated, and Saban will almost certainly devise a game plan that protects his young QB. At the very least, McCarron won’t be asked to go out and win the game. He simply has to manage it.

Although Alabama will have to go on the road this season, the end result might not be all that different from last season. After all, the Nittany Lions’ offense isn’t any better than it was a season ago when it managed just three points against Alabama. More importantly, the Crimson Tide defense is essentially the same group that nearly shutout Penn State except with another year of experience under its belt. The Nittany Lions just don’t have the personnel to put up a lot of points against better teams. Granted, Alabama isn’t likely to be an offensive juggernaut this season either, but the Crimson Tide should ground game and defense should lead Alabama to a comfortable road win.

Free College Football Picks and NCAAF Predictions: Alabama -9.5

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