Braxton Miller: What to Expect from Ohio State QB vs. Penn State

Braxton Miller nearly gave Ohio State fans a heart attack when he was taken to a nearby hospital on Saturday. Now they are hoping he gives them something to cheer about in Week 9.

The signal-caller took a serious shot from Purdue CB Josh Johnson in the third quarter of the Buckeyes' win over the Boilermakers and remained on the turf for a while, slowly getting up and eventually opting for a hospital trip in the fourth quarter.

Tests revealed his potential neck injury was nothing more than a scare and is just sore at this point. According to coach Urban Meyer (via The Washington Post), the quarterback is now expected to practice all week and play in Saturday’s game against Penn State.

His presence will be a major boost against the Nittany Lions, especially on the road in a game that Vegas currently has set at a pick ‘em (via ScoresAndOdds.com). PSU is only giving up 15.7 points per game in 2012, a figure that has them sitting at No. 13 in the nation.

It’s certainly tough to score points—especially in Happy Valley—but Miller is one player that can ignite the Buckeyes offense and make it happen.

Let’s project some stats for the QB in this Week 9 matchup.

 

Predicted Stats: 14-of-24 for 179 yards and one touchdown, one interception. 12 rushes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State wins, 21-14.

 

It’s going to be business as usual for Miller, who shouldn’t even be feeling too sore by the time the game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The elite sophomore will guide his team to another victory with a strong rushing performance and a decent enough passing day.

Stay tuned here on B/R for the latest news, updates, opinions and analysis on Braxton Miller and the Ohio State Buckeyes.