Navy @ Penn State preview

Navy at Penn State

Bill O’Brien understood the difficult challenge in front of him when he accepted the Penn State coaching job last winter, but losing his first two games in heartbreaking fashion hasn't helped matters. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions host Navy as they try to give O'Brien his first win as a college coach. While Penn State attempts to move on from the turmoil of last season, it finds itself 0-2 for only the fifth time in the last 45 years as O’Brien has watched his team squander second-half leads in both games, including last week when kicker Sam Ficken missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired in a 17-16 loss at Virginia. With a week off to recover from its 50-10 blowout loss in Ireland to Notre Dame, Navy will try to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2005.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN2. LINE: Penn State -5.5

ABOUT NAVY (0-1): The Midshipmen may be in for another daunting challenge against a Nittany Lions’ run defense which is yielding 2.9 yards per carry. Navy committed four turnovers and allowed 293 rushing yards against Notre Dame, two areas in which Penn State could exploit the Midshipmen if they fail to execute properly again this week. On a more positive note, junior wide receiver Shawn Lynch finished with 87 yards and the team’s only score against the Irish and could be a headache this week for a Penn State defense allowing 293.5 passing yards per game.

ABOUT PENN STATE (0-2): After failing to force a turnover in their season-opening loss to Ohio, the Nittany Lions’ defense recorded four against the Cavaliers. With the Midshipmen and their option attack up next, Penn State should feel confident in defending the run after limiting Virginia to 32 yards last week. On offense, sophomore wide receiver Allen Robinson has thrived with Big Ten-best totals in receptions (19) and receiving yards (186). He will be counted on even more after starting wide receiver Shawney Kersey announced earlier this week he was leaving the team for personal reasons.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Navy was 2-4 in true road games in 2011, but 11-10 in such contests in coach Ken Niumatalolo’s five-year tenure.

2. Penn State holds an 18-17-2 edge in the series, although this will be the first meeting since 1974.

3. The Midshipmen have been outscored 179-69 in their last eight losses.

PREDICTION: Penn State 24, Navy 14