By Kellan King
Penn State went 4-5 last year, but were able to salvage a nearly disastrous season after an 0-5 start. They were led by QB Sean Clifford, and had a strong offense that averaged nearly 30 ppg. It was the worst season in the James Franklin era at Penn State, and the Nittany Lions will look to rebound in 2020.
Reasons to Buy
Currently, Penn State’s price on the simbull market is $49.02, the 12th highest price on the market. The Nittany Lions bring back 16 starters, including 9 on offense. That includes most of their top skill position players, most importantly Sean Clifford. Clifford, a 2 year starter, is one of the best QBs in the Big 10 and should provide good leadership. They also will have fans back, which should boost them as they have one of, if not the best home field advantage in the country. I also believe in James Franklin, as he is one of the top coaches in the country, and has had a lot of success at Penn State.
Reasons to Sell
Its very hard to convince me that a 4-5 team will become a top 15 team in a year. While their offense should be strong, their defense has a lot of question marks. They lose many of their top pass rushers like Shaka Toney and Shane Simmons, and could struggle with a somewhat weak front 7. They also play a very tough schedule, with teams like Wisconsin, Auburn, Ohio State, and Michigan all on the schedule. I could see the Nittany Lions getting of to a slow start and finishing 7-5 or 8-4.
Final Verdict
Overall, I just can’t justify this high price for Penn State. Can they be a top 15 team in the country? They will need to beat a lot of tough teams, and I don’t see them getting it done. They have a talented team, but just not enough defense to match up with the top teams in the country. I’d say to sell.
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