Penn State @ Ohio State football preview

#3 Nittany Lions hit the road for big prime time match-up in Columbus

BY THE NUMBERS: #3 Penn State Collides With #9 Ohio State

Date: Saturday, October 25th
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
Location: Ohio Stadium / Columbus, OH

It’s THE game....the one that matters the most in the Big Ten this season. Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions collide with Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes this Saturday in Ohio Stadium for a potential BCS bid and a “chance” at a championship. It just doesn’t get any bigger than this in terms of national exposure and pressure on this level.

There is no denying that Penn State has struggled against Ohio State since joining the conference. What makes this weekend’s game different is that the Nittany Lions have rolled to an 8-0 start, have their best all-around team since the Kerry Collins era, and are actually ranked ahead of the Buckeyes in October. And, don’t ignore the fact that the Lions are the ones playing for more than a Big Ten championship this weekend.

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Both teams possess an abundance of talent with a nice combination of youth and experience, but most would say the Buckeyes have the advantage this Saturday. Before you make your prediction on the game of the week, let’s take a closer look at the numbers:

• 156.4 - Ohio State is averaging 156.4 passing yards per game, which ranks them 107 th in the nation. They will need to improve this number to win this weekend, and will find it tough against a Penn State defense allowing only 159.4 passing yards per game.

• 2.1 - The difference between the Penn State and Ohio State defensive units is 2.1 yards per game. Penn State ranks 8th in the nation, allowing 263.3 total yards per game, while Ohio State ranks 10th in the nation, allowing 265.4 total yards per game. Expect some big plays on the defensive side of the ball to make the difference on Saturday.

• 159.8 - The difference between the Penn State and Ohio State offensive units on the other hand is a different story. The Nittany Lions are averaging an impressive 482.1 total yards per game, good for 11th in the nation, while the Buckeyes rank near the bottom (92nd) averaging 322.3 total yards per game. This 159.8 yard differential should cause some concern for Buckeyes fans.

• 21 - Ohio State ranks 1st in the nation in turnovers gained with 21. The Buckeyes have a knack for taking the ball away from opponents. But, Penn State has been pretty good in this category too with 15 turnovers gained through eight games this season. More often than not, this game has come down to the turnover battle. Look for that trend to continue this weekend.

• 23 - Penn State has sacked the quarterback 23 times this season (14th in nation), but will face its toughest test against Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor on Saturday. Pryor is elusive in the pocket and seems to be gaining confidence in each start. Defensive ends Maurice Evans and Aaron Maybin will need to contain him for the Nittany Lions to win in Ohio Stadium. I believe they will.

• 22/28 - You can almost guarantee that whoever has the most rushing yards, Penn State RB #22 Evan Royster or Ohio State RB #28 Beanie Wells, his team will prevail Saturday night. My money is on Evan Royster.

Notes: Penn State has lost 10 straight games on the road to AP Top 25 opponents... Penn State hasn’t won in Columbus in 30 years and is 0-7 there since joining the conference... Penn State QB Daryll Clark is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, while Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor is a native of Jeannette, Pennsylvania... Penn State is 11-12 in games decided by 7 points or less, since 2001.

Prediction: Penn State 23 - Ohio State 21

by Chris Goodrich
BigTen-fans.com Penn State Correspondent

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