At last, No. 19 Penn State football kicks off its season in Madison against No. 12 Wisconsin at noon Saturday on FOX.

With some new coaches and rising stars, the Nittany Lions head into 2021 with high expectations after a disappointing 4-5 season. The Badgers, on the other hand, will attempt to build off their 4-3 record in their pandemic-shortened 2020 schedule.

Despite the Nittany Lions being 5.5-point underdogs, most of our staff expects James Franklin’s squad to leave Madison with a 1-0 record.

Samuel Brungo: Penn State 27, Wisconsin 20

I don’t think this will be a blowout, but I do think that Penn State will dominant the game, even if it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard. Sean Clifford will have two passing touchdowns: one to Parker Washington and another to one of his tight ends. I also see a turnover on offense, either an interception or a fumble. However, it’ll just come down to first-game jitters.

The defense will look good through the first three quarters but let up a bit in the fourth, allowing Wisconsin to bring it within a touchdown. Penn State looks solid and prepared for their big year. State by seven.

Charles Reinert: Penn State 17, Wisconsin 14

I’m calling for a good ol’ fashioned low-scoring Big Ten football game filled with great defense and pounding the rock. I’m absolutely expecting Wisconsin to look pretty rusty to start the season due to a lot of its 2020 campaign being canceled due to COVID-19.

However, whenever you’re playing the Badgers, you can expect two different things: phenomenal defense and a heavy run game. With the new offense for the Nittany Lions, I expect Sean Clifford and the rest of the offense to have a bit of a challenge in front of them. I think Penn State’s defense will be stout and hold its own against the Badgers, so this game will all come down to Sean Clifford and if he can rise to the occasion.

Zach Donaldson: Penn State 31, Wisconsin 21

Penn State’s offense under new coordinator Mike Yurcich has yet to be examined, but the Nittany Lions have tons of returning talent on both sides of the ball, including many players who are poised to take a big step forward.

Wisconsin has one of the better overall defenses not only in the Big Ten but across the country, starting with its secondary. Penn State’s quarterback Sean Clifford had a major tendency to turn the ball over a lot last season, and the Badgers’ back-end isn’t going to make things easy for him in his return to action in 2021. If there’s a difference-maker in this game, that’ll be it.

Penn State has won four straight against the Badgers. I think the Nittany Lions make it five and avoid a sour start to the season like last, and instead make a big statement.

Frankie Marzano: Penn State 31, Wisconsin 28

This is a tough game to predict. Both teams are evenly matched and great have depth at almost every position, but I think Penn State pulls away with a massive win. I think Sean Clifford and the Nittany Lions’ offense will come out looking like a Joe Moorehead offense with Mike Yurcich in charge. They have one of the most stacked running back rooms in the country, and Javan Dotson and Parker Washington at wideout can help balance the offense out. On the defensive side, Jaquan Brisker is set to have a breakout year.

The game this Saturday will tell us a lot about the Nittany Lions, and this could potentially be a game that is very influential for the future of the program. I’m riding with the Nittany Lions on the road. 

Connor Krause: Penn State 31, Wisconsin 24

Let’s throw it back to 2013, the last time the Nittany Lions played in Madison against the Badgers. 

As 24-point underdogs, the motivated away squad jumped out an early lead behind the arm of Christian Hackenberg and never looked back, securing a 31-24 victory in season-defining fashion. 

To begin this year’s season, I expect James Franklin’s current squad of Nittany Lions to beat the Badgers by the same exact margin.

After disaster struck during the last season opener at Indiana, I’m confident the coaching staff and players will come out firing on all cylinders to avoid a repeat performance. 

Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson will capitalize on Wisconsin’s undersized secondary early and often, setting Mike Yurcich’s offense up for Noah Cain to control the clock for the majority of the second half. I think the defense will allow points at the hands of quarterback Graham Mertz, but a crucial late turnover will ultimately seal the game for the visitors.

Gabe Angieri: Wisconsin 27, Penn State 24

I hate to be that guy — I really do. Yes, I think Penn State is going to be much better than last season and will ultimately end up with double-digit wins. However, it’ll have to wait another week for its first win of the season.

An opening-week trip to Madison is a tough task for a Nittany Lion squad that has some coaching turnover and first-time starters. I expect the offense to go through some struggles against an always-tough Badger defense and turn the ball over twice, both leading to points for Wisconsin. Defensively, I think Brent Pry’s group will battle and play solid football for four quarters besides a few big plays.

While I believe the game will come down to the last couple of drives, Wisconsin will hit a go-ahead field goal in the final two minutes to give the Badgers an opening-day win.

Will Pegler: Penn State 31, Wisconsin 20

This is going to be a fun season opener, folks. Wisconsin is a top-tier Big Ten foe for James Franklin’s squad, and he doesn’t exactly have a great track record with road games against ranked opponents. However, I see the Nittany Lions pulling out a victory in Camp Randall this weekend.

Wisconsin’s defense is always talented, and that’s no different this year. The offense likely won’t give Brent Pry’s defense too much trouble, though, and Mike Yurcich’s group will do just enough for a win. Expect Noah Cain and the rest of the running back group to burst onto the scene and carry the load, and throw in a Sean Clifford touchdown pass to Brenton Strange for good measure.

A strong defensive second half lets the Badgers hang around, but a late score gives Penn State a two-possession victory at Camp Randall.

Ryan Parsons: Penn State 27, Wisconsin 14

I actually think Penn State is a good football team and I actually think Sean Clifford is a good quarterback. We’ll see what happens after this all-important season opener, but I’m trending towards the side of optimism here.

For a team that philosophically relies on running the football and pounding the trenches, I’m not too impressed with Wisconsin’s run defense or running back corps. I believe the Nittany Lions will hold the edge inside the box Saturday and that will ultimately give them the edge. Penn State’s offensive weapons both on the ground and through the air could prove to be quite lethal.

Heading into Camp Randall is undoubtedly a huge challenge, but a seasoned Nittany Lions crew should be up for the challenge. This is the same Clifford that won the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, right? I predict that by the end of the third quarter, Penn State and the rest of Nittany Nation will be “Jumping Around.”

Matt DiSanto: Wisconsin 27, Penn State 17

Some of my fellow staffers are awfully confident in a Penn State program that practically needed a defibrillator last fall.

The Nittany Lions’ 4-5 season is probably more a fluke than anything, but it still happened. Penn State still coughed up so many turnovers, lost so many games, and washed away so much goodwill built up over a few successful seasons. I’m not ready to feel confident in this year’s team until I see it on the field, and I don’t think the Nittany Lions will figure things out in a season opener on the road against the No. 12 team in the country.