To say Penn State is up against it Saturday at Ohio State would be an understatement.
Ohio State is the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
Penn State hasn’t won a game in more than a month in a half.
But Penn State fans learned that just about anything can happen in college football, and that cliche has benefitted the teams playing against Penn State.
Will Penn State be on the right end of it today?
Here are our predictions.
Kyle Golik: While I believe in Terry Smith, at some point the failures begin to mount and there is a breaking point. Penn State has been competitive in its four-game losing streak, but at some point in a failed season a team breaks.
Ohio State has plenty of motivation to lay it on Penn State with the awkward ending with Jim Knowles. Talent wise, Julian Sayin is playing historic football. Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith may be the best on the perimeter in this recent era for Ohio State. Defensively, Matt Patricia has successfully installed his defense better than Knowles to the tune of allowing just 41 points in seven games – fewest since the 1993 Florida State Seminoles. Ohio State’s weakness is running the ball, Penn State has surrendered over 200 yards per game in Big Ten play. I don’t see an out for the Nittany Lions, unless this is the one out of a million game and I will take the field on this one.
Ohio State 41, Penn State 7
Austin Bechtold: Penn State is outmatched in this one. A redshirt freshman quarterback going into The Shoe with only one start could be a recipe for disaster. I don’t expect a blowout like many may think. Penn State will score a special teams touchdown and Kaytron Allen finds the end zone. Ohio State will make it personal against Jim Knowles. Penn State will struggle in this one.
Ohio State 35 – Penn State 17
Jarrod Prugar: It is truly hard to understand or predict how Penn State will perform against Ohio State this weekend. Terry Smith has said all the right things since being hired and his team will be ready to play, but can they keep up with the powerful Buckeyes?
It is truly hard to understand or predict how Penn State will perform against Ohio State this weekend. Terry Smith has said all the right things since being hired and his team will be ready to play, but can they keep up with the powerful Buckeyes?
Ohio State 42, Penn State 17
Joe Smeltzer: This Ohio State defense, statistically, is on place to be historically good.
Through seven games, the unit has allowed 41 points, which no defense had done since 1993.
How is Penn State supposed to have an answer to that with a backup quarterback?
Even with Drew Allar starting, Penn State would have had a heck of a time scoring today. Without him, it will be that much more difficult.
Ethan Grunkemeyer has the right attitude, and given the circumstances, played well at Iowa.
With that said, this Ohio State defense is a monster that would frustrate any QB at this point, and that’s where my prediction stems from.
Penn State can’t win if it doesn’t score, and I don’t think it will score.
Ohio State 30, PSU 0
