No. 9 Penn State (10-2) and No. 11 Washington (10-2) meet in the Fiesta Bowl in one of the last college football games of the 2017 calendar year.
Here's everything you need to know about the Fiesta Bowl matchup between the Nittany Lions and Huskies:
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What
Fiesta Bowl
Where
University of Phoenix Stadium, (Glendale, Ariz.)
When
Saturday, Dec. 30, 4 p.m.
How to watch
ESPN, live-stream at WatchESPN
Betting line
Penn Sate -4.5
Last meeting
Penn State beat Washington 13-10 on Dec. 26, 1983 in the Aloho Bowl. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 2-0 (Penn State won the first meeting 21-7 in 1921).
Keys to victory
Swan song for Saquon?
Saquon Barkley is undoubtedly one of the best running backs in the country, but teams have stacked the box against him all season, and that's likely what Washington — which boasts the nation's No. 1 rush defense (92.3 rushing yards per game) — will do that as well. That frees up Trace McSorley to hit some of his big-play receivers, but Barkley will need to make a play or two for Penn State to come out on top. Look for the Nittany Lions to find a way to get him in space.
Return of Dante Pettis
Penn State isn't the only team with a game-breaking player on its roster. Dante Pettis is Washington's dynamo, especially as a punt returner: He is the nation's leader in punt return yards (428) yards per return (20.4-yard average) and touchdowns (four). If the Nittany Lions don't want to give the Huskies good field position (or a score) they'll be booming sky punts all day. It may hurt a little in the battle for field position — but the risk of a big return from Pettis is too high.
Browning vs. McSorley
Both Jake Browning (2,544 yards, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions) and McSorley (3,228 yards, 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions) have shown out this season, and know how to win high-stakes games. As much as skilled players will have an impact on this game, it will be the play of these two quarterbacks that decides the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl.
MORE: College Football Playoff odds: Who's the favorite?
Bold prediction
Both Pettis and Barkley will have touchdowns of at least 40 yards.
Early pick
Penn State 38-30. Penn State simply has too many offensive weapons — it will show when the Nittany Lions pull away in the fourth quarter.
