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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Ohio State vs. Penn State: Why JoePa Won't Get Win No. 401 Against the Buckeyes

Congratulations to coach Paterno on reaching his 400th career victory last Saturday against Northwestern.

The man who has been the head Nittany Lion since the Johnson administration became the first FBS coach to reach 400 wins. He’s a true model of loyalty and consistency.

That being said, it’s hard to imagine Penn State winning No. 401 for Joe Pa Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

PSU has only beaten Ohio State once in Columbus since they joined the Big Ten in 1993.

That came two years ago when Terrelle’s Pryor’s fumble on a quarterback sneak paved the way for the Blue and White’s game-winning drive.

They arrive in Columbus a different team than they were a month ago.

An embarrassing loss to Illinois dropped the Nittany Lions to 3-3 and 0-2 in the Big Ten. They have since run off three straight wins including climbing back from a 21-0 deficit last week against Northwestern.

PSU scored 35 straight points, led by quarterback Matt McGloin’s four touchdown passes.

OSU coach Jim Tressel, who mentioned he saw the first quarter of the game on television and caught the rest on the radio en route to a high school game, said he didn’t exactly expect PSU to give up last week.

“When it's 21-0 they're not going to fold the tent. That's just not how they're made,” Tressel said. “You’re going to have to play 60 minutes to compete with them.”

McGloin, a former walk-on, has eight touchdowns (seven passing, one rushing) in the last three games against Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern.

Those three defenses aren’t exactly elite, something the OSU defense, ranked third in the nation in scoring defense, clearly is. The “Silver Bullets” will also have starting linebacker Ross Homan back in the fold as he seems to have recovered from his foot injury.

Oddly enough, OSU is 2-4 after bye weeks under Tressel, so perhaps Penn State has a chance.

However, in six home games this season, the Buckeyes have beaten their opponents by an average score of 47-11, and in case you forgot what the Buckeyes did to a much better Penn State squad last year in Happy Valley, here's a reminder.



So much for beating the Buckeyes and their "arm-punting" QB, eh PSU fans?


Image originally posted before the 2009 game on BlackShoeDiaries.com

Throw in the fact that the game will start at 3:30, which equates to an even livelier Horseshoe crowd.

This game will not be decided where an Ohio State-Penn State game usually is (in the trenches), but rather, through the air.

Terrelle Pryor should be able to torture the Nittany Lion secondary to the tune of three touchdown passes while the Buckeye defense pressures and pounds on McGloin all day long.

The final score will likely be somewhere in the neighborhood of Ohio State 34, Penn State 10.


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This article was written by BlockONation contributor, Grant Freking

2010 Ohio State Buckeyes Movie Trailer, Part I: The Regime

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New Motto For PSU: We Are.......0-2 vs. the Only Two Good Teams We've Played All Year

Penn State Fans: Sorry But MOST of You Deserve This

By HD Handshoe
Founder—BlockONation


Especially if you are a member of the Penn State blog, BlackShoeDiaries.

Honestly, I don't usually rub it in to the opposing fans after the Buckeyes win, but a large majority of the PSU fan base deserves it after the comments and overload of venomous trash talk they spewed leading up to this game.

Now, don't me wrong—I'm all for trash talk—but it's a two-way street. Someone forget to tell the posters or staff at BSD that though. They can name call and cuss all they want, but if you reply similarly, you get the "ban hammer."

At least I can take solace in knowing that "all three of my readers" can join in with me in saying, "We told you so!"

PSU fans are worse than Michigan fans if you can believe that. At least UM fans have some historical ground to stand on. PSU fans have very little in comparison, but that doesn't stop them from talking the talk, sans actually walking the walk.

PSU fans are worse than Michigan fans if you can believe that. Read the comments I mentioned above that they posted here on BlockONation and on BSD.com before the game and you will agree.

And here I thought PSU was going to win easy, guaranteed!

Another priceless thread after the game: Joe MUST go!

I have to ask....Is it #1, or #2?

One last gem of a thread: PSU is Pryor's nightmare / Pryor sucks / He's a choke artist, etc...

They sure are sore losers too.

I read one post-game comment on BSD that said "Now Ohio State will go and embarrass the Big Ten in another BCS bowl."

Better luck next year State Penn, er,....PUS, er.....ummm,.....Joe-Poop-U.

I know it stings, but that's what you get when your big mouths wrote checks that your over-matched team couldn't cash.

YES, YOU'VE BEEN PWNED BY THIS SO-CALLED FIFTH GRADER, BLOCKONATION!

If you don't like the We Are 0-2 motto, try this one:

WE WERE/ARE.....................COMPLETELY OVERRATED!

P.S...Have fun at the Outback Bowl!

P.S.S...TP outplayed Clark and nearly outgained PSU by himself!

OSU'S SUPERMAN?


AP Photo

He sure looked like it on that TD dive!

Final Score:
Ohio State 24
Penn State 0
Replay Booth 7

ESPN Video Highlights: Ohio State Shocks PSU



Copyright ABC/ESPN


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Daryll Clark "Failure" Image created by Simmsinns from SBNation