Top OOC Games of 2007: #7 Notre Dame at Penn State

#7 Notre Dame at Penn State The Nittany Lions will be looking for revenge on September 8 at 6pm since the Fighting Irish really put a beating on them last year 41-17. In my last post I explained all the new faces that will be starting for the Irish. This game will be a total role reversal from last season. It will be the Nittany Lions who are the veteran team while the Irish will have the young squad. This game's outcome will rest on the shoulders of Senior Quarterback Anthony Morelli. He showed signs of promise last year, especially in the Outback Bowl against Tennessee. If the offensive line can gel and give Morelli time, he should be able to take advantage of his game tested receivers against the young Irish secondary. Austin Scott will be the running back with the departure of Tony Hunt to the NFL. The defense boasts one of the best linebackers in the country in Dan Connor, and Justin King is one of the better shutdown corners in the league. If the Irish are going to do any damage on this defense, they must find a way to take advantage of the young, inexperienced defensive line. This is the Lions' first test of the season and a loss against the Irish will not bode well since they travel to the Big House two weeks later. For the Irish this game is sandwiched between a home contest against Georgia Tech and road match up against Michigan. I expect this game to be a close one in the first half, with the Nittany Lions pulling away in the second half. Paterno is still stewing from the loss last year, but Weis always seems to have something up his sleeve.