ALTOONA, Pa. -- Did you try to sell your Penn State tickets this week? Find any takers, for even a small amount? Or did some of you just give the tickets away to friends or family, knowing this is the one game on the home schedule this season that you really don't mind missing?
This is Villanova, an FCS opponent.
Penn State is favored by 31.5 points.
It's the third home game in a row. A fourth comes next week. Sure, home games are a blast, but with four in a row, well, they can't all be winners, can they?
Oh, and this is sandwiched between a thrilling whiteout victory over Auburn and the Big Ten home opener against Indiana.
In short, this game is about as uninteresting as it gets from the Penn State fan perspective.
That's not to disrespect Villanova. At all. The Wildcats have a good FCS program, and they are playing well, coming in undefeated. This is the Wildcats' Super Bowl.
OK, fine. But when the Nittany Lion cheerleader takes the microphone just before kickoff and yells the traditional, "Are you ready for Penn State football," the reality is there still will be a lot of empty seats because many fans will still be enjoying their tailgating and delaying their entry into Beaver Stadium for the noon kickoff.
I hate this overused phrase, but ... it is what it is.
• What: Penn State (3-0) vs. Villanova (3-0)
• When: Noon
• Where: Beaver Stadium
• TV: BTN
• Boxscore: ESPN
• Media notes: Penn State | Villanova
Why is Penn State playing Villanova? Easy. Because the Lions have a brutal schedule this year, and they need a practice game right now. When you open up at Wisconsin, have Auburn in week three, then the Big Ten slate with trips to Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan State, no one can blame James Franklin for wanting to schedule this kind of game.
Penn State should be able to come out and build a big lead on Villanova, do what it wants to do on both sides of the ball, get a lot of backups in and rest the starters. If that doesn't happen, and by some chance Villanova gives the Lions a good game, then that would be a big deal.
NEAT SERIES NOTE
Villanova actually won the last three times these teams met. My, how the world of college football has changed in those 70 years, though.
The last meeting was in 1951, and Villanova prevailed, 20-14. The Wildcats also beat PSU in 1936 and 1949.
ABOUT VILLANOVA
The Wildcats are coached by Mark Ferrante, who has been at the school for 34 years. He was an assistant coach from 1987-2016, before becoming head coach in 2017.
Villanova won the FCS national title in 2009, going 14-1 and beating Montana in the championship game.
This is the coolest thing you'll see about Villanova. It's one the craziest touchdown passes you'll ever see and occurred in a game last season against Delaware.
VILLANOVA JUST THREW THE WILDEST TOUCHDOWN PASS OF ALL-TIME! 🤯pic.twitter.com/zKobr8HSyY
— BroBible (@BroBible) April 17, 2021
WHAT PENN STATE NEEDS TO DO
This is no secret to anyone: The Lions need to work on their running game.
The pass blocking has been great. The offensive line has given Sean Clifford time to throw, and he has played very well so far.
But the running game is a big problem, and Penn State will not be able to beat strong Big Ten competition unless it gets that part of the offense going.
I asked offensive line coach Phil Trautwein on Thursday how confident he is that the line can start opening up lanes to help get the running game going.
"We just have to keep working on our fundamentals and details and making sure our eyes are right," Trautwein said. "Defensive linemen or front seven, they're not just standing still, definitely vs. us. They're gonna try to move, they're gonna try to plug, get us off double teams.
"I feel like because we can come off the ball and we can move double teams, they're gonna move. So we just have to get better at that and just make sure our eyes are right and just make sure our footwork is good and perfect."
GET ROBERSON EXPERIENCE
Just like against Ball State two weeks ago, this game will be about getting a lot of backups some experience. And that especially goes for backup quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson.
If Clifford can stay healthy all season, then PSU's offense will be fine. But if something happens to Clifford, everything will fall on Roberson's shoulders, and he needs to get as many snaps as possible just in case that happens.
This very well could be the last game Roberson will have an opportunity to get experience in a non-meaningful situation. If everything goes as planned, he should get to play all or most of the fourth quarter.
PREDICTION
Penn State 48, Villanova 10
I don't see the Wildcats doing much against Penn State's strong defense.