Ohio State vs. Penn State— Week 12 (Game 11) Outlook, History Lesson, and Prediction

OSU/Indiana—A Few Opening Thoughts...

Somehow, the Buckeyes let destiny and fate perhaps slip through their hands last week in an unexpected 26-26 overtime loss to Purdue.

This week, Penn State comes to town off a home loss to Nebraska, and still realing from the Jerry Sandusky molestation case, and on the heels of the news that Joe Paterno has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

This game today could play out just about any way imaginable given the whirlwind these two programs have faced recently, and for the Buckeyes, since last December.

The higher ranked team usually wins when OSU and PSU battle, but PSU has only scored three touchdowns against Ohio State in Columbus, EVER. A low-scoring defensive game is most likely -- although every we all think we know what to expect, the opposite happens -- so don't be shocked if both teams break into the 30's or 40's -- or not.

The Wisconsin-Illinois game just went final and with the Badgers win, Ohio State's run of Big Ten titles is officially over -- but, a win today and of course next week vs. "them" will still count as a decent season given everything these players and this program has been through over the last year.


Team Overview / Players of Note

Penn State

The Penn State offense ranks 88^th nationally at 359 yards per game. They are 8^th in total defense, allowing an average of 287 yards per game, and rank 3^rd in points allowed per game (12.9).

Penn State quite frankly has no decent quarterback, but Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin have shared the duties. McGloin seems to be the guy now, but both pretty much suck so it really doesn't matter who starts. McGloin has 1,386 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Bolden has 526 passing yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.

Running back Silas Redd, PSU's only real offensive threat, leads the team with 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns.

Derek Moye and Justin Brown are one-two in receiving for the Nittany Lions. Moye has 34 catches for 592 yards and three scores, while Brown has caught 32 balls for 423 yards and one touchdown.


Ohio State

Ohio State is 108^th in total offense (317 yards per game) nationally. They are 15^th in total defense, allowing an average of 317 yards per game, and rank 16^th in points allowed per game (18.9).

The Silver Bullets have 22 sacks and 11 interceptions through 10 games.

On the season, QB Braxton Miller, has 679 passing yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has 490 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. His current passer efficiency rating is 134.

Carlos Hyde still leads the team in rushing with 525 yards and six touchdowns, while senior starter Dan Herron, who will play his final home game today has 477 yards and a two scores.

Devin Smith leads the team in yardage with 241 yards on 11 catches, including four for scores. Tight end Jake Stoneburner, who has not caught a pass in the last three games, is still second on the team with 150 yards, and still leads in receptions and touchdowns, with 12 and six respectively.


Ohio State—Penn State History Lesson And Trends

• Ohio State is 14-12-0 all-time vs. PSU.

• Ohio State is 69-8 in Ohio Stadium since 2001.

• Ohio State is 18-2 in November games since 2005.

• Ohio State has won 4 of the last 5 meetings against PSU.

• Ohio State is 183-78-11 all-time in November home games.

• Ohio State is 2-2 against ranked teams under coach Luke Fickell this year.

• Ohio State's defense has held opponent to fewer than 10 points 31 times since 2006.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just one 100-yard rusher in the past 28 games at home.

• Ohio State's defense has allowed just seven 100-yard rushers in their last 46 games.

• Ohio State has held 66 opponents to 21 points or less since the start of the 2005 season.

• Ohio State has lost just three games in the month of November since their last loss to Michigan on November 22^nd, 2003 (Purdue 2004, Illinois 2007, Purdue 2011).

• PSU has only beaten Ohio State twice in Columbus since 1978.


Final Thoughts and Score Prediction

There's really not much else to say. I believe it was all covered in the opener.

This game feels like a toss-up so the home team gets the edge.

The score is anyone's guess.

Here's mine -- literally a gut-feeling guess.

Ohio State 20
Penn State 12


"To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will" (you also have to beat Purdue, but I digress) - Sugar Ray Robinson

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BlockONation.com EXCLUSIVE: A Different Take on Pay-For-Play at Ohio State

By HD Handshoe — BlockONation.com Founder

A very reliable source relayed some information directly to me today that I found very interesting given the current situation at Ohio State involving players and cars, memorabilia, autographs, tattoos, alleged money-handshakes, and the like.

The term pay-for-play has been mentioned this offseason -- not just in discussions pertaining to Ohio State -- but across the entire college football landscape more times than Tiger Woods lied to his ex-wife in the past 2 years about which hole his club was really in during his multiple Las Vegas "exploits".

Here's a twist none of us saw coming -- Reverse pay-for-play. What does that mean you might be asking yourself? It is just what it sounds like.

Cheryl Krueger, co-founder of Cheryl and Co. sold her company to 1-800-FLOWERS in 2005 for millions. In the words of one of the coaches (who remains anonymous), she has been a big-time donor and philanthropist to the University for well over 20 years. She is also a board member for Bob Evans restaurants.

Here's the meat of the story -- Her son Cavin Green, a redshirt freshmen from New Albany, Ohio is a member of the Ohio State football team. He is listed as a DL and wears #94.

So what's the problem?

Well, the problem is that there is no record of Cavin Green ever playing prep football, or any sport for that matter during his high school days at Columbus Academy -- so how and why is he on the 85-man roster at Ohio State, one of the nation's most elite DI football programs?

From Krueger's Wikipedia Profile

In January 2003, when The Ohio State University won the national football championship, Krueger teamed up with OSU coach Jim Tressel to raise money for cancer research through sales of a commemorative, autographed cookie jar. Tressel lost both of his parents to cancer.

"We’ve now donated over a quarter of a million dollars to the Tressel Family Fund," Krueger says. "For a company our size to donate that kind of money, that’s a big deal. It’s a very big deal. We’re really proud of it."

It's unlikely that Green is on scholarship (hopefully not), but it seems very clear as to why and how he "earned" a roster spot -- Thanks to his Mom.

Coincidentally, Krueger and Green were listed and invited guests of Ohio State for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game against LSU -- Thanks (again) to his Mom.

Also according to my source, how Green "made the team" ($$$) isn't exactly a secret around the program among those in the know behind closed doors, but apparently, he and his situation are not to be talked about.

Whoops...

I looked on Ozone, ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, and Google among other sites, yet couldn't find 1 lousy picture of him anywhere online, and although he is listed as a member of the roster on the Buckeyes official site, there's no picture or bio for him.

Looks like who you know (Tressel) and having a few million to spare can get your son a jersey and a position on the team at OSU -- and the clout and prestige that brings to you on campus and around Columbus -- even when you have never played a day of competitive football in your whole life.

Wonder if he will lose his bought-and-paid-for roster spot now that JT is gone and the story has been uncovered...


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Instant Classic - The Legendary LSUFREEK Does Terrelle Pryor

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Is the End Near? Looking Back—An Ohio State Coaching Career Retrospective

Embattled Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel confirmed today that he has never considered resigning or stepping down, and that he would not do so unless he believed the University and his players would be better off.

Don't mistake that to mean, however, that he still can't be forced to resign or be fired; it is still a possibility once the NCAA finishes their investigation.

Now with that out of the way, please take a look at my latest offering if you would be so kind. I think you will find it most interesting...

Here's the rundown of our beloved Buckeye coach

• Was born in a small Ohio town.


• Coached and compiled a fine record at small colleges in Ohio before becoming head football coach at the Ohio State University.


• Is among the most respected and recognized college football coaches in the country.


• As coach of Ohio State, compiled an unprecedented winning record against football teams from the University of Michigan.


• After leading Ohio State to a national championship, led a 10-year run of tremendous success marked by appearances in major bowl games in 8 out of the 10 years.


• Coached Ohio State to 6 consecutive Big Ten Championships in those 10 years.


• During that decade, his teams nearly won several other national championships, falling just short by one game on several occasions.


• In that span, his Ohio State teams twice lost major bowl games that would have completed undisputed national championship seasons.


• Universally loved by Ohio State fans everywhere.


• Recognized for his off-the-field contributions to Ohio State and central Ohio as much as for his football record.


• Nine years after winning a national championship, committed a serious conduct violation.


• Despite never losing the adoration of the Buckeye Nation, that violation led to his firing, and he never coached another football game at Ohio State or anywhere else.

Despite the intentionally misleading image at the top right of this article, you may or may not have figured out by now that the coach this article is about is the one-and-only, Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes, NOT Jim Tressel.

But, everything Hayes did, Tressel also has done exactly to the mark, except for the getting fired part—well, so far at least.

You know how they say history repeats itself?

They're right...


Special thanks to TheShoe78   for his post on the Ohio State/Scout.com "Hineygate" Football Forum, which included all of this info.



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Big 10 Blogging: 5 Thoughts on Tressel Saga

CFN's Big 10 Bloggers give you five different perspectives on the current state of Tressel's troubles. What this means for Tressel, to the University, the Big 10 and OSU fans. Oh yeah, and some folks up in Michigan.


HD Handshoe: On what this means for Buckeye fans

One word—Division.

Tressel has always had his detractors because of his conservative coaching style and his failure to win several of the biggest games in which his teams have played. So a divide amongst fans and their support of the coach is nothing new—just now, the division and lack of support is even greater.

Before learning that Tressel knew ....

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Still "In Tressel We Trust?" — Plot Thickens as Concerns Rise Over Latest on Tressel Emails

Until recently, Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel had been given the benefit of the doubt (mostly) by the majority of loyal Buckeye fans. The general thinking inside the Horseshoe was that outsiders who despise Ohio State for its on-field success this past decade under Tressel were on some fruitless witch hunt....

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