Penn State vs. Ohio State: What to expect?

A revenge seeking Penn State program visits the Buckeyes this Saturday for a much anticipated 8 p.m. night game. The Nittany Lions come into this game 5-1 overall, and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Ohio State heads into the prime-time showdown 6-0 overall, and 2-0 in the Big Ten.

The top-ranked Buckeyes will have their hands full with this Penn State team. It was only a few months ago where many of us were looking at the schedule and believing Penn State would come into this game undefeated. After suffering a tough loss to Temple in week one, the Nittany Lions find themselves on a five game winning streak heading into Columbus.

Although the Buckeyes are a 17 point favorite, this will not be an easy game for the team. Penn State gave the Buckeyes a nail-bitter last season, bringing the game to double-overtime. We all remember those favorable calls Ohio State got too. The Nittany Lions are seeking revenge and hope to ruin the Buckeye’s first ever “Black Out”.

With both teams undefeated in Big Ten play, there is a lot at stake. The Buckeyes look to continue their undefeated season in hopes for another successful playoff push. Penn State looks to show the country that despite their week one loss, they are under looked in not only the Big Ten, but as a playoff contender.

Keys for Ohio State:

Limit Turnovers:

Quarterback Cardale Jones comes into this game with five interceptions. If Jones can keep the ball out of the defenses’ hands, the offense can find more opportunities to put the ball in the end-zone. If the offense can limit those big interceptions and fumbles, it gives them a much greater opportunity to put big points on the board, and keep the crowd in the game. Penn State’s defense averages two turnovers a game, which is among the top in the country.

Find Red-Zone Success:

Heading into last week’s Maryland game, the Buckeyes struggled to find touchdowns in the red-zone. The offense was able to score six touchdowns coming from the red-zone against Maryland. Before that, they found just six in their first five games alone. The good news is it looks as if the offense has found it’s success in JT Barrett last week. Barrett was a huge key in helping the Buckeyes match their season total with touchdowns scored inside the red-zone last week.

Keys for Penn State:

Continue Playing Strong Defense:

After holding Indiana to just 234 yards last week, the PSU defense is coming into this game with some momentum. If they want a chance to win this game they will need to come up with some turnovers that lead to points. It isn’t easy stopping the powerful running game the Buckeyes bring each game.

Control The Crowd:

A “Black Out” in the shoe has been in discussion for a couple years now. Buckeye fans can finally experience the first ever “Black Out” in Ohio Stadium. There is no question the crowd will be hyped up for kickoff. This poses a big threat to Penn State. If they want to seek composure early on they need to grab quick momentum.

This is a huge night game for both teams. Penn State has momentum, but Coach Meyer seems to always find a way to win the big Big Ten regular season games. Look for Ohio State to stress a well played 1st half. If they can do that, they should handle the Nittany Lions. Prediction: Ohio State 35 Penn State 14.