At long last the Nittany Lions
are on the threshold of a No. 1
season. The Penn Staters hold
within their grasp their own des
tiny of being this Natioras fin
est in collegiat football for the
'78. 9 79 year. A crucial win over
cross rival Pitt has left the
Lions one game away from the re-..
ality of being college football's
best, and the first Penn State
team in history to finish atop
the UPI and AP Polls.
The Lion team closest to be
ing number 1 previously was the
1969 team, which also went uncle*
feated, but ended up 2nd behind
Texas, at least to everyone out
side of Pennsylvania. If 2nd
ranked Alabama can get by pesky
Auburn this weekend, the Lions
will have the opportunity to
prove.who is the best once and _
for all. The Crimson Tide is not
going to be an easy opponent but
Joe Paterno and his players
wouldn't have it any other way.
The heart of this year's team
is the defense. The Lion defense
is the toughest in college foot
ball to run against. The twosome
of Millen and Clark or salt and
PHILA at MINN - Both teams find
themselves in a must win situa
tion to get a playoff birth. The
Eagles are tough, but the Viks
have more experience when it
comes to a big game. Minn by 10
ATI at CINN - The Falcons are
struggling, but they're winning.
The Bengals still haven't left
the starting gate. Atl by 4
BALT at NY JETS - This one looks
to be a tight one, probable over
time. Young Matt Robinson gives
Jets edge. New York by 3
GREEN BAY at TAMPA BAY - The Pack
is fighting for a playoff spot.
The Bucs are fighting for respect
and a .500 season. In a tight one
Green Bay by 4
MIAMI at WASH - The Dolphins need
No. Woo Sep tilowl Sound
This Week In Pro Football
Spoils Page
By Michael,Cocciardi
pepper as they are sometimes
called, anchor the middle of the
defensive line and give opposing
quarterbacks something to think
about with a ferocious pass rush.
Safety man Pete Harris lead* the
team in interceptions with nine,
and sticks to receivers like blue
lines on notebook paper. This de
fense is the main reason for the
Penn Staters* 1, game winning
streak, the longest among major
college football teams in the ma.
tion.
The team's present record of
11.0 includes wins over bowl
bounded Pitt, N.C. State, Nar36.A
land, and Ohio State, with shut•
outs coming against Kentucky and
Ohio State.
The teams offense has at times
been sluggish inside opponents 20
yard line, and settled for field
Oats instead of touchdowns. But
when it has had to t the Lion of.
fens. can move menacingly. The
offense is spearheaded by quarter
back Chuck Fusin*, with an impres
sive backfield of Mike Guman,
Matt Suhey, and Booker Moore. All
three backs poses. the the abilim
ty of making the big play when it
is needed most. Guman scored the
By Michael Cocciardi
this one bad, but the Skins are a
tough bunch in their own backyard
Wash by 6
LA at NY GIANTS - In a battle of
the coasts, look for an ambush.
NY Giants by 3
BUFFALO at KC - In a mean-nothing
game look for a lot of mean-no
thing scoring. KC by 7
DETROIT at STL - With Jim Hart at
the trigger, look for the Cards
to deal the Lions a blowout.
STL by 17
SF at NEW ORLEANS - The Saints
have something to prove, unfor
tunately the 49er's don't.
New Orleans by 13
PITT at HOUSTON - When these two
get together its like 2 dogs
fighting over a bone. The Oilers
go ahead touchdown at the Pitt 2
yard line late in the fourth quer•
tar An last week's win, and was
also the only one to score a
touchdown in last year's Pitt
gamo..suhey's punt return run back
in the N.C.. State game ignited a..
Lion comeback to win a tight ball
game. Moore is capable of break•
ing a big gainer from scrimmage
at almost anytime in a ball game,
and is always a safe bet in 3rd
and one situations.
The kicking game has also
played a major role in the Lion's
success this year. Place kicker
Hatt Bahr broke the NCAA record
for field goals in season. His
field goal in the last few se•
conds provided an opening game
victory over Temple 10.7, and he
is a perfect 31,f0r 31 on extra
point attempts. Scott Fitskets
punting is adequate, but he is
capable of booming them deep at
times.
So with a Sugar Bowl victory
over Alabama, the Penn State Nit.
tany Lions can rightfully acclaim
themselves No. 1, but then as I
said after the Pitt game, "We had
em all the way."
look to have the
In a nail biter,
NEW ENGLAND at DALLAS - The Super
Bowl Champions have finally come
into their own, and as the song
says "nobody does it better", but
the Pats are a high spirited
bunch. Dallas by 9
CLEVE at SEATTLE - The Seahawks
are flying high, but the Browns
are no quitters. Seattle by 1
DENVER at OAKLAND - Showdown
time and it look• like the Bron
co's are going to bite the dust,
the hard way. Oakland by 17
CHICAGO at SAN DIEGO.- Monday
Night Football has seen better
days, but at least the halftime
highlights should be good, even
with Howard. Chicago by 7
•harper teeth.
Hou by 4