Penn State vs Ohio State
Posted: October 26th, 2017, 10:47 am
Here we are a few days out from what appears to be the biggest game of the season for the B1G and possibly college football as a whole. The forecast has a chilly, rainy, cloudy, B1G type of day but the wind shouldn’t be a factor. The World Series also impacted this game pushing it from the typical 8:00 pm time slot into the 3:30 pm kickoff time. College Gameday will be live from Columbus from 9 am to noon.
I can’t remember the last time Penn State played a game of this magnitude. In ’08 and ’05 they played big games but with the BCS system only letting 2 teams into the championship, a lot of things still had to fall in their favor to get to the BCS Championship. For instance, in ’05 I don’t think they would have got into the Rose Bowl (BCS Championship) even with a 12-0 record because Texas and USC finished undefeated with Reggie Bush and Vince Young led squads.
It’s been a little too easy for the Buckeyes since Urban Meyer took over. Yes, they were upset by Sparty a few times and they had an undefeated season go for naught due to sanctions from the Tressell Tattoo Scandal but really they have been the program in the conference that was head and shoulders above the competition. Much like Alabama in the SEC over the past several seasons, the seasons kind of always started as Ohio State vs. the field. Recruiting has come even easier for Urban the Buckeyes as nearly every true big time bluechipper out of the Midwest seemed to be finding their way to Columbus. Sure, Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State have sprinkled in some top 15 classes but Ohio State has been a top 5 class every year since Urban Meyer took over.
Well the power is starting to shift in both categories. Penn State pulled off a huge upset last season in Happy Valley and now have won 15 straight regular season games and last years B1G Championship. Ohio State got trounced in the CFP and looked just as bad against Oklahoma at home. Look at the recruiting boards and you see a shift there, as well. Micah Parsons (PA) the top DE in the country was a Buckeye lean a few months ago and now seems to be favoring PSU. Tyreke Smith (OH) the #4 DE in the country seems to be a toss up. Then we head over to NJ where Jayson Oweh seems to be the most heavily recruited recruit of the bunch. He too seems to be leaning towards Penn State. The biggest recruiting dilemma that Ohio State may be facing is the “rumored” retirement of Larry Johnson Sr. This guy is a recruiting monster. If he indeed retires, that could really swing a lot of key recruits away from Columbus.
Getting back to the actual game on Saturday afternoon, both teams have played 6 great games and 1 game that was pretty ugly. Ohio State had the week off but Penn State is riding a little wave after an electrifying win during the White Out. Neither teams have injuries that should alter the outcome. Urban Meyer is perfect in his last 20 attempts working with a bye. Last person to beat him has Ben Roethlisberger and Miami (OH) while Urban was at Bowling Green. Both teams can play the revenge card. Penn State beat them last year, won the conference and still had to settle for a Rose Bowl appearance while Ohio State was the 3 seed in the CFP. Ohio State on the other hand are coming off of a loss to Penn State which cost them a chance to play for the B1G Title. Both teams have Heisman candidates running wild and veteran defenses. The storylines for this game are literally endless.
So, for my prediction. Both teams will score and both teams will get key stops. These are two really even football teams. Ohio State getting the game at home off the bye will be really tough to overcome. As much as it pains me to type, I have Ohio State 30 Penn State 28. I hope that I am wrong. Either way, it is fun to be back to playing games of this magnitude as a program again.
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I can’t remember the last time Penn State played a game of this magnitude. In ’08 and ’05 they played big games but with the BCS system only letting 2 teams into the championship, a lot of things still had to fall in their favor to get to the BCS Championship. For instance, in ’05 I don’t think they would have got into the Rose Bowl (BCS Championship) even with a 12-0 record because Texas and USC finished undefeated with Reggie Bush and Vince Young led squads.
It’s been a little too easy for the Buckeyes since Urban Meyer took over. Yes, they were upset by Sparty a few times and they had an undefeated season go for naught due to sanctions from the Tressell Tattoo Scandal but really they have been the program in the conference that was head and shoulders above the competition. Much like Alabama in the SEC over the past several seasons, the seasons kind of always started as Ohio State vs. the field. Recruiting has come even easier for Urban the Buckeyes as nearly every true big time bluechipper out of the Midwest seemed to be finding their way to Columbus. Sure, Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State have sprinkled in some top 15 classes but Ohio State has been a top 5 class every year since Urban Meyer took over.
Well the power is starting to shift in both categories. Penn State pulled off a huge upset last season in Happy Valley and now have won 15 straight regular season games and last years B1G Championship. Ohio State got trounced in the CFP and looked just as bad against Oklahoma at home. Look at the recruiting boards and you see a shift there, as well. Micah Parsons (PA) the top DE in the country was a Buckeye lean a few months ago and now seems to be favoring PSU. Tyreke Smith (OH) the #4 DE in the country seems to be a toss up. Then we head over to NJ where Jayson Oweh seems to be the most heavily recruited recruit of the bunch. He too seems to be leaning towards Penn State. The biggest recruiting dilemma that Ohio State may be facing is the “rumored” retirement of Larry Johnson Sr. This guy is a recruiting monster. If he indeed retires, that could really swing a lot of key recruits away from Columbus.
Getting back to the actual game on Saturday afternoon, both teams have played 6 great games and 1 game that was pretty ugly. Ohio State had the week off but Penn State is riding a little wave after an electrifying win during the White Out. Neither teams have injuries that should alter the outcome. Urban Meyer is perfect in his last 20 attempts working with a bye. Last person to beat him has Ben Roethlisberger and Miami (OH) while Urban was at Bowling Green. Both teams can play the revenge card. Penn State beat them last year, won the conference and still had to settle for a Rose Bowl appearance while Ohio State was the 3 seed in the CFP. Ohio State on the other hand are coming off of a loss to Penn State which cost them a chance to play for the B1G Title. Both teams have Heisman candidates running wild and veteran defenses. The storylines for this game are literally endless.
So, for my prediction. Both teams will score and both teams will get key stops. These are two really even football teams. Ohio State getting the game at home off the bye will be really tough to overcome. As much as it pains me to type, I have Ohio State 30 Penn State 28. I hope that I am wrong. Either way, it is fun to be back to playing games of this magnitude as a program again.
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