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Everyone wants more this fall at Penn State.

Alamo and even Outback appearances at the end of the football season won't satisfy after the past two letdowns.

Improvement, though, will depend on the offense and special teams scoring points in bunches, which is actually quite possible this fall.

As long as the offensive line stays healthy and the new quarterback play is steady throughout.

And if that's the case, it might not matter that this defense won't be as good as the past few editions.

The prediction here is a 9-3 regular season -- 10-2 if the Lions wouldn't always give at least one away that they shouldn't. Here's a game-by-game look:

AUG. 30 (at PSU, noon)

PSU 53, Coastal Carolina 3:

It won't matter that the Chanticleers actually have been pretty good in the Big South Conference or that Wally Richardson's brother is the quarterback or that Penn State needs to regroup on defense.

CC is a Division I-AA outfit that's played for only a few years -- and plays in front of 7,300 fans. Welcome to Beaver Stadium.

SEPT. 6 (at PSU, 3:30 p.m.)

PSU 31, Oregon State 17: The competition becomes markedly more serious with a team known for its impressive coaching and standout defense and ability to knock off big shots. The Beavers will cause some problems.

But its asking a monumental effort to travel across the country, get locked down in front of a sold-out Beaver Stadium and then actually find a way to win. Injury/illness issues also hurt Oregon State.

SEPT. 13 (at Syr., 3:30 p.m.)

PSU 42, Syracuse 10: This looked like a matchup to circle when the brief series was announced several years ago. Now the Orange are just plain bad. The Lions can become acclimated to the road against a most non-threatening opponent.

SEPT. 20 (at PSU, noon)

PSU 36, Temple 9: The Owls are making strides. The problem is that they still don't begin to have the depth needed to compete for four quarters in this one. Expect a big day of pounding the ball up the middle with Evan Royster.

SEPT. 27 (at PSU, 8 p.m.)

PSU 28, Illinois 25: This one has been anticipated since the choke at Champaign, Ill., last fall.

Credit the schedule gods for making this one in prime time to give the needed adrenaline boost from the Beaver Stadium rowdies. It won't be easy with the Penn State offense still tinkering -- but it will be good enough.

OCT. 4 (at Purdue, TBA)

Purdue 44, PSU 38: Curtis Painter will throw the ball all over the Lions, from beginning to end in coach Joe Tiller's final game against PSU.

And for a change, the Boilers will win this matchup. Though only the first loss, it will be an ominous way to start one of the toughest months in the program's history.

OCT. 11 (at Wisconsin, 8 p.m.)

Wisconsin 20, PSU 16: The Lions show some fight in trying to rebound, especially with the best effort of the fall from the young linebackers and safety Anthony Scirrotto. But it's still the wrong place at the wrong time.

OCT. 18 (at PSU, 4:30 p.m.)

PSU 29, Michigan 19: This will still be a shaky Wolverines team, unlike recent vintage. But a victory over Michigan (the last was in 1996) is cause for celebration, all the same. Of course, it won't be easy.
OCT. 25 (at Ohio State, 8 p.m.)

Ohio State 32, PSU 20: A valiant effort isn't nearly enough against this type of power on the road at night. Give the Lions credit for hanging around for three quarters and for moving on without lasting damage.

NOV. 8 (at Iowa, TBA)

PSU 35, Iowa 13: A good place to take out the frustration of losing the past three out of four. This is season-saving stuff against a team that is a shell of itself from early in the decade.

NOV. 15 (at PSU, TBA)

PSU 45, Indiana 24: By now, the Penn State offense will have the confidence, experience and diversity to tear through so-so opponents. It won't matter what their own defense does.

NOV. 22 (at PSU, TBA)

PSU 34, Michigan State 30: This could be the most dangerous situation -- a Spartans team that is not only loaded in talent but coached well, for a change. But until they actually win in Beaver Stadium ...

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the Daily Record/Sunday News. Reach him at 771-2104 or fbodani@ydr.com.