Hoosiers are confident, ranked for the first time in 25 years and own the firepower to test PSU defense

Winning breeds confidence and belief in a team and for the second consecutive week Penn State will play a team that is comfortable in its own skin.

Indiana pays a visit to Beaver Stadium ranked for the first time in 25 years, playing its very best football right now and dragging along a tidy four-game winning streak.

Just what the vulnerable Nittany Lions – remember this is a young football team – needed was another confident and hot team.

There is a very good chance Penn State falls to 8-2 this week. I am not saying the Nittany Lions are going to lose, I’m saying it should not be a surprise if come time for Saturday supper the Lions are a two-loss football team.

Saturday at Noon is not about blocking and tackling for Penn State. By that I mean how the Nittany Lions play is all about their resilience, character as a team and belief.

That loss last week to Minnesota was a 1-2 combo to the jaw and it has wobbled this young squad. Penn State clearly is the more talented team. But that’s only one part of the equation for Saturday.

For the Nittany Lions coaching staff this week wasn’t about trying to figure out how to help the Penn State corners cover better or find a second option at wide receiver. Their main job this week was making sure one tough loss doesn’t define this 2019 team. Confidence is fickle. And saying you believe and playing like it are completely different.

There was very little over four quarters last week defensively that said players on Penn State’s defense believed. That side of the ball is the biggest worry heading into Saturday.

Because in a lot of ways, Indiana has a lot of the same elements as Minnesota. They are, however, missing one key ingredient that was a difference maker. The Hoosiers don’t have big receivers, so those contested catches that dogged the Nittany Lions a week ago are less of a threat.

Saturday is all about belief and confidence. And heading into kickoff Indiana has the edge.

For me the Penn State defense is what will be the ultimate difference maker for me. This group was run through, pushed around, thrown over and outcoached badly a week ago.

How they bounce back against a quarterback in Peyton Ramsey who is very similar to Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan. Ramsey has been around the block, has a quick release and is accurate. The Golden Gophers put a lot on tape for the Hoosiers to work with.

Hoosiers RB Stevie Scott III is a workhorse and a catalyst for Indiana winning four straight. Scott has posted 100-plus yard games in three of those four games and when he’s running downhill the offense becomes significantly more dangerous.

Indiana has a go-to wide receiver – who thankfully for you Penn State fans is only 5-11. And they own one of the top pass catching tight ends in the Big Ten but he will be the second best tight end on the field this week.

I have zero concerns about the Penn State offense. The line is the best group under head coach James Franklin, quarterback Sean Clifford and wideout K.J. Hamler will create yards and points.

Keep an eye on the Nittany Lions defense, though. In order for Penn State to be 9-1 come Saturday supper time how they play will be what stands out.