Penn State-Ohio State: PSU's Biggest Game of the Year

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We've talked about "big games" for most of this season, but one game's that's a little under the radar this weekend is the one between Penn State and the devil known as Ohio State this weekend.

If I didn't hate Michigan so much, there wouldn't be a team in the Big Ten I could dislike more than the Buckeyes. Why? Because it's a smashing rivalry and always a competitve and good game between two teams that dislike each other.

The great thing is for Penn State and Ohio State fans is that while people respect Jim Tressel and Coach Paterno, they really, really dislike Penn State and Ohio State fans, basically because they are obnoxious and rude. Which—if you're ever been to a game between the teams—is probably true (the complaints are too big to mention from both sides about the treatment an opposing fan will get in Columbus or State College).

To win, Penn State's going to have to:

1) Keep the Crowd Onside

Easier than you might think. When it became apparent that Iowa wasn't going to defend in the same way as it did in the first PSU offensive play of the game when it let in a touchdown, the crowd was slightly taken out of it. Even if Penn State goes behind early—an easy thing to do against these Buckeyes—they need to keep the roar relentless.

2) Stop Terrelle Pryor

People talk about sputtering offences, but Terrelle Pryor—in his second biggest game of the year—is going to be hard to stop with his legs.

Last time I looked, the Nittany Lions weren't good at stopping a mobile quarterback, and nearly came unstuck against Northwestern before Mike Kafka got injured.

Pryor's better than Kafka. Oh, and there's always the chance that Pryor might get into it with the Penn State crowd, who wants blood .

3) Keep the Defense Scoring Points

The biggest factor of the Nittany Lions' defense has been their ability to score points and stop people. They battle for every minute they are on the field—evidenced by their eagerness to score a shutout against Minnesota a couple weeks ago—and  they had unwillingness to let Michigan score another point in the Big House.

Terrelle Pryor is going to make a mistake—the D just needs to capitalize. And with Jack Crawford, Navarro Bowman, and Jared Odrick ready to cause mayhem, you've got three people quite happy to do it.

4) The Offensive Line's Got to Hold up

The offensive line's held up pretty well over the last few weeks, but thenagain, they haven't had a big challenge since Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham tore them apart . The line needs to hold to stop Ohio State, who aren't a poor defensive team.

5) Darryl Clark, Keep on Doing What You're Doing

I haven't a clue what Darryl Clark is doing at the moment, but he's playing pass-and-catch with his receivers rather well, and he's fun out of the pocket.

If he's anything as good as Michael Robinson was in the 2005 game against Ohio State, Penn State's going to have some fun.

Here's what happened Penn State got together with Ohio State in 2008.

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