A year ago, Ohio State was the favored team going into Happy Valley 6-0, and the number two ranked team in the country. Penn State came into that game 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 10 play. A blocked field goal with 4:27 seconds left gave the Nittany Lions the victory. Since that game, Penn State won the Big Ten championship, was left out of the playoffs, and lost one game in a thriller in The Rose Bowl at the hands of USC. Ohio State made the Playoffs losing to future champion Clemson 31-0. This season the Buckeyes lost at home to Oklahoma, but since the loss have looked dominant. This is a game for football fans of all ages. A Heisman Trophy Candidate, one team looking for revenge and won looking at the playoffs. Trust me you are not going to want to miss this one!
The Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State comes into this week fresh off a bye week and is currently 6-1, perfect in the Big 10. The Buckeyes leads the Big 10 with 577.3 yards per game and with 47.3 points per game. The Buckeyes have scored at least 54 points in their last 4 games and I am sure J.T. Barrett and the offense want to do that to the visiting Nittany Lions Saturday. Barrett has had himself a season thus far, leading the Big 10 in passing touchdowns with 21, points per game 22.6 and total yards per game 313.9. He is second currently in passing yards per game and completion percentage. The Buckeyes defense is only giving up 15.4 points per game.
The other huge factor that you have to talk about is 3-time National Champion coach Urban Meyer who is 43-2 in 6 seasons at Ohio State. There is no question Meyer knows how to win and has the 2017 Buckeyes looking a lot like the 2014 National Championship team. Scoring and dominating teams on offense and strangling team on defense. Rested looking for revenge and looking to make a statement could be the recipe for a win for the Buckeyes!
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State come into Saturday’s game winning its last 15 regular season games. They have also won their last 13 Big 10 games, largely in part to Heisman Trophy candidate Saquon Barkley. Barkley, to this point in the season, has 1478 all-purpose yards: 757 running the ball and 448 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. A lot of experts are saying that Ohio State have the tools to shut Barkley down due to an extra week to prepare for him and the talent that the Buckeyes have on the defensive side of the ball.
Barkley is not the only player the Nittany Lions have, Quarterback Trace McSorley who is not the 8-20 Quarterback he was a year ago. This young quarterback has improved every game and to this point in the season leads the Big 10 in passing yards per game (268.4) and completion percentage (68.8). McSorley is a true field general who can create plays with his feet as well as his are. McSorley likes to target his big tight end Mike Gesicki, who has caught at least one pass in 21 straight games. This is a team that is taking things one week at a time and playing a very high level especially coming off a huge 42-13 demolition of Michigan. If you are a Penn State fan, you must be happy with the way the Nittany Lions moves the ball on the number one defense in the Big 10 just a week ago.
Outcome
Ohio State is going to come out at home flying around, coming off the bye week and looking to ruin Penn State’s hope of making a run at the playoffs. The Buckeyes I am sure have had this game circled since day one of camp. If Penn State is not careful, J.T. Barrett could be poised to have a big game both with his feet and his arm. Penn State is a very disciplined team, they have only being penalized 3.57 times a game. That discipline and getting either Barkley or McSorley or both going on offense, Penn State is poised to go in to Ohio State and come out with a victory.
Both teams are looking to make statements for Ohio State. It is expressed that they deserve to be a one loss team in the playoffs and that they are the best team in the big 10. For Penn State, it is that last year’s win was no fluke and that they should have been in the playoffs last year and will be in the playoffs this year. I think Penn State and company win a nail biter and move to 8-0. Regardless of who you are rooting for these 18, 19, 20-year-old young men on both teams are going to put on a show for pure football fans! I am telling you, at 3:30 on Saturday, you are going to want to tune in, and enjoy!
Written by
Carlo Guadagnino
Edited by
Daniel Bishop M.A.
Reference
https://www.google.com/amp/collegefootballnews.com/2017/10/penn-state-ohio-state-prediction-game-preview/amp
http://www.gopsusports.com/saquonbarkley/
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/92626674
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21129720/revenge-factor-ohio-state-matchup-penn-state-urban-meyer-says
Ohio State has the cool uniforms, black out crowd, fresh off a bye, and have been beating up teams since the Oklahoma game. However, this game will come down to Trace McSorley. You know Barkley will make at least one big play. If Trace can throw the ball well OSU is in trouble. Penn State has some big abs physical wide receivers that can change a game in seconds. If psu struggles throwing the ball, then osu can easily focus on Barkley. Penn State has been using back up QB Tommy Stevens in games lately. Don’t be surprised if they use some trick plays and get him involved. It’ll be a great game but I think Penn State will win.
ReplyDelete