It’s time once again to take a seat at the Blue White Round Table where the brilliant minds that are the community of Penn State bloggers come together and answer a series of questions pertaining to the Nittany Lions.

This week we regroup after the loss to Iowa and collect ourselves as we prepare for the first road game of the season, at Illinois. This week a man with a great name (Kevin) from Penn State Clips and one of the most vocal participants on the Penn State Football Yahoo Group serves up some very good questions.

As usual, here are this week’s projected starters for the Blue White Round Table.

W. F. Yurasko
Happy Hour Valley
The Nittany Line
We Want the Lion
Zombie Nation
Nittany Whiteout
Nittany Lounge
Penn State Clips
2 The Lion

Can the dream become a reality?

1) The BCS Championship Game dream is dead, but Penn State can still go to the Rose Bowl (at least in theory). What’s your best guess about our final record and bowl destination?

Well for starters, if you have been reading Nittany White Out the past couple of days you may realize that we do not necessarily believe the BCS Championship dream is dead. But for argument’s sake I will play along. At this point in time I am going to say that this Penn State team is a 10-2 team. I still think that they are a top team in the Big Ten but I had them losing one game all year in my original season predictions, and it was not to Iowa.

Now we are seeing that Minnesota and Michigan may not be a slouch and Ohio State is guaranteed to give Penn State a tough test no matter what the situation is when the two teams meet. Of course, I still think that the Northwestern road game is dangerous (trap game between Michigan and Ohio State) and who knows what will happen even this weekend at Illinois. Will Penn State come out flat on Saturday, realizing that their ultimate dream may have been erased in the conference’s first game, or will they come out firing on all cylinders for the same reason, looking to make a statement?

Truth is, nobody knows for sure. Put me down for 10-2, but no Rose Bowl.

2) Illinois beat I-AA Illinois state, but sandwiched it with losses to Mizzou (37-9 in St. Louis) and at Ohio State (30-0). They have, by far, the worst pass offense in the Big Ten and their pass defense stinks as well. They put little pressure on the quarterback (1.3 sacks per game) and they do a lousy job in protecting the passer (3.33 sacks per game). In short, the Illini stink. Who rights, the ship on Saturday, PSU or Illinois? Discuss.

They put little pressure on the quarterback against teams with more established offensive lines. I am still not ready to say that the Penn State offensive line will have an advantage in any game, let alone this weekend. Still, I have more faith in the coaching staff at Penn State to “right the ship” this weekend. Illinois has shown no passion to win this season (really though, has PSU?) and after reading this week that Ron Zook had no bitter feelings about the loss to Ohio State, I totally believe that Penn State will be the more focused team this week.

3) The Nittany Lions are 2-8 this decade in Big Ten openers and 3-6 in Big Ten road openers. (Obviously there’s some overlap there.) The two wins in Big Ten openers were during the championship years of 2005 and 2008. What’s the problem?

Quite frankly, they usually did not have teams that were good enough. It’s not like Penn State was opening up with Indiana every year. We all are well aware of the problems of this decade and the “Dark Ages of Penn State football” that were a chore to watch. they opened up against better teams from Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin in a few of those years. It’s all about the match-ups. In 2005 and 2008 they were the best team in the Big Ten. That does not mean that they are not going to be the best team in 2009 though. Still a lot of time left to determine that outcome.

4) Last week’s blocked punt for an Iowa touchdown was the turning point in the game. Twice this decade a kickoff return touchdown has been critical in an Illinois victory over Penn State and the way things are going it could happen again Saturday. What’s the problem with Penn State’s “special” teams? Poor coaching? Lack of a dedicated special teams coach? Not getting our best athletes on the field?

While the blocked punt was the official turning point, I still point to the safety. Anyway, it is somewhat concerning what has happened to Penn State on special teams in recent years. Give them credit though for having a pretty good kicker and punter in recent seasons, but it would be nice to see some better protection and blocking, and coverage. Special teams can clearly win and lose a team games so attention to detail is a must.

It is easy to point to the coaches when it comes to this, and not without merit. I would like to see a coach specifically to focus on special teams. what is Brett Conway up to these days? Would he be interested in a coaching job?

Is that Touchdown Jesus?

• The line is Penn State -7. Cover or no? Yes
• Are you going to the game? No
• True or false: Chief Illiniwek was retired as the Illinois mascot after protests by members for the Illiniwek tribe FALSE
• Will Chicago be awarded the 2016 Olympics on Friday? Nope. My money is on Rio de Janeiro.