Creature vs. Creature: A Buckeye on Penn State-Ohio State

Game Preview

It has been well-documented that Ohio State returned 19 starters from last season's national championship runner-up team.  Though that statement is true, the Buckeyes have a much different look and feel than the team that took the field a season ago, or even a month ago.

Terrelle Pryor is firmly entrenched as the Buckeye's starting quarterback, the offensive line has been reshuffled and positions reassigned, the tight ends and fullbacks do much more than block, and Chris "Beanie" Wells, despite missing three games with a foot injury, is still on track for 1,200 yards this season.

The Buckeyes are riding high after a dominating performance over Michigan State, which may have done more than give the Buckeyes confidence and momentum heading into this monster showdown with Penn State. 

The Buckeyes are back in the thick of it and the team knows it, the coaches know it, and most certainly the fans know it.

Columbus hasn't been friendly to Penn State; the Lions haven't won in Columbus since joining the Big Ten in 1993.  Not since 1978 have the Nittany Lions won in The 'Shoe.  And it hasn't even been close.

The Buckeyes have not allowed more than 10 points per game to the Lions in that span and have won the games by an average of 21 points.  In fact, the Buckeye defense has more touchdowns (6) than the Penn State offense (5) during that span.

Last season, the teams met under very similar circumstances, a nationally-televised night game at Beaver Stadium in an infamous Penn State white-out where essentially the same teams took the field. 

The major difference?  Anthony Morelli and Todd Boeckman were the starting quarterbacks.  The final score?  A 37-17 victory for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State will win if...

The defense plays physical and continues to force turnovers.

Despite giving up 35 points to USC last month, the Buckeyes defense is still statistically one of the best in the country.  The Buckeyes have been more physical as of late, and have been outstanding at stopping the run. 

Stopping the run will be key.  Evan Royster is averaging more than six yards per carry and is an integral cog in the Penn State offense.  Ohio State knows this, and much like stopping Javon Ringer in last week's game, slowing down Evan Royster will be a key to the Buckeyes success.

The Buckeyes must force Daryll Clark into uncomfortable situations.  Sacks would be nice, but let's be honest, the Buckeye front isn't having much luck with sacks this season.  What they have been able to do and do quite consistently, is force the quarterback into uncomfortable throws. 

Note the Buckeyes lead the league in interceptions and are fourth in the nation in turnover margin at +12.

The Buckeye defensive backs, led by senior Malcolm Jenkins, have been outstanding this season and will be able to cover the Penn State receiving corps pretty efficiently.  I expect to see a lot of nickel packages this week, which will allow Etienne Sabino and Jermale Hines to have an impact on the Penn State offense.

The Freshman Phenom plays his game and Beanie rolls.

Terrelle Pryor is the biggest key to offensive success for the Buckeyes.  Pryor will have to have some early success through the air in order to open up the Penn State defense.

Believe me, Chris Wells will run the ball effectively.  He always does.  But if Ohio State doesn't get the passing game going early, the running lanes will get smaller and smaller.  And Pryor will be forced into situations he may not have seen yet in young career.

Jim Tressel and Jim Bollman have done a masterful job of not putting Pryor in difficult situations.  But over the last few weeks, we have seen glimpses of the playbook opening up.  The downfield pass was absent for the first few Pryor starts, but Pryor did throw deep last week and on more than one occasion. 

Pryor, along with Buckeye receivers Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline, Ray Small, and DeVier Posey, will likely see a lot of man-to-man coverage from Penn State and will need to take advantage of a serviceable, but not great Penn State secondary.  With Pryor's mobility, Ohio State could get a some big plays on play-action passes.

Ohio State will lose if...

The Buckeyes allow Penn State to control the line of scrimmage.

The dominating factor in Ohio State's infamous high-profile losses has been that the Buckeyes were dominated up front and in the trenches.  The Nittany Lions boast one of the best offensive lines in the country and the defensive line isn't far behind.

If the Buckeyes allow Daryll Clark to stand in the pocket without pressure, he is capable of picking them apart.  On the other side of the ball, if the Buckeyes can't protect Pryor, Aaron Maybin will find him in a hurry.

The Buckeyes fall behind early and allow the demons to grab hold.

Ohio State cannot afford for Penn State to get an early lead.  The home crowd will be pumped and will be a factor in the game if, and only if, the Lions don't take them out of it.  On another note, the Buckeyes are not a great come-from-behind team.  They can and have this season, but not against a team as talented as Penn State.

Ohio State has become known more for their colossal losses than for the fact that they are the third-most winningest program since 2000.  Although the Buckeyes have been nearly perfect in Big Ten play over the last four years, they still have a monkey on their back, which is failing to win big games.  The Buckeyes cannot allow the demons of the past affect their play in this game. 

The X Factor

Saturday's game will be the eighth night game in Ohio Stadium history.  The Buckeyes are 6-1 in those games, with the only loss coming in the final seconds to Vince Young and eventual-national champion Texas in 2005.

Just imagine this Big Ten game with national implications and conference superiority on the line, and not to mention, the Ohio Stadium crowd shaking the stands. 

Adding to the craziness for this game is the fact that it is Ohio State's Homecoming and ESPN's College Gameday, the Big Ten Network Gameday show, and Big Ten Network Friday Night Tailgate will all be broadcasting live from Columbus.

The party will start well in advance of the 8:00 p.m. kick-off and the entire state will have Scarlet Fever.  Speaking of Scarlet Fever, that has become the theme for this week's game.  Jim Tressel has called on the Buckeye Nation to wear scarlet to the game on Saturday and give Penn State a taste of their own medicine.

The Buckeye student section will be in full force and the addition of a second Block 'O' cheering section will only make things harder for the Nittany Lions. 

The Buckeyes and Jim Tressel live for this kind of game. 

Prediction

This game has all the makings of an instant classic, much like the 2005 game played in Happy Valley.  The offenses, while both have the potential to be explosive and put up points, will take a backseat to the defensive play.  Both defenses will come ready to play, and the game will come down to which defense does a better job of stopping the run. 

Penn State and Joe Paterno will, for the second week in a row, snap a streak that has nagged them for years.  The Nittany Lions will score more than 10 points at Ohio Stadium for the first time since 1993. 

But another streak will continue.  It won't be flashy and it certainly won't always be pretty, but Ohio State will stop Evan Royster and ruin Daryll Clark's Ohio Stadium debut in a physical, hard-hitting game for the ages. 

Look for a spectacular game from Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis.  The defensive duo will be the difference in the game and I wouldn't be surprised if one or both came up with a timely turnover.

Ohio State 24, Penn State 20

For the Penn State perspective, check out Isaac Luber's article.