We look at the pertinent information, depth charts and share a prediction on Saturday's pivotal Big Ten football match-up between No. 15 Ohio State and No. 11 Penn State Saturday at PSU (3:30 p.m., ABC). Click this free link for all the details.
Ohio State at Penn State
* Date, Time: Sat., Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. (Eastern)
* Location: Beaver Stadium; University Park, Pa.
* TV: ABC regional telecast (Announcers: Sean McDonough, Matt Millen and Holly Rowe); ESPN2 outer-market. Click here for the coverage map showing which areas will show the game on ABC and where it will be on ESPN2.
* Records, Rankings: Ohio State, 7-2 overall, 4-1 Big Ten, ranked 12th in USA Today coaches poll, 15th in Associated Press poll and 16th in the BCS standings; Penn State, 8-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten, ranked 10th in USA Today coaches poll, 11th in Associated Press poll and 11th in the BCS standings.
* Coaches: Ohio State, Jim Tressel (ninth year at OSU, 90-21; 24th year overall, 225-78-2; vs. Penn State, 5-3); Penn State, Joe Paterno (44th year at PSU, 391-128-3; vs. OSU, 8-12).
* Series History: This will be the 25th meeting all-time between the schools. The all-time series is deadlocked at 12-12. Ohio State leads the Big Ten series (since 1993) at 10-6. Penn State will be going for consecutive Big Ten wins over OSU for the first time since joining the conference. PSU owns a 5-4 edge in games played at University Park, Pa.
OSU has won five of the last seven meetings. The home team has won 12 of the 16 games played since PSU joined the Big Ten, although the road team has won the last two. OSU won 37-17 two years ago at University Park, while Penn State took a 13-6 win at Columbus last year.
Click here for a detailed look at the Ohio State-Penn State rivalry.
* Penn State Schedule: Sept. 5, Akron, W 31-7; Sept. 12, Syracuse, W 28-7; Sept. 19, Temple, W 31-6; Sept. 26, Iowa, L 21-10; Oct. 3, at Illinois, W 35-17; Oct. 10, Eastern Illinois, W 52-3; Oct. 17, Minnesota, W 20-0; Oct. 24, at Michigan, W 35-10; Oct. 31, at Northwestern, W 34-13; Nov. 7, Ohio State; Nov. 14, Indiana; Nov. 21, at Michigan State.
* Penn State Key Players (2009 Stats): QB Daryll Clark (166 of 263 passing, 2,158 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INTs), RB Evan Royster (145 carries, 759 yards, 5 TDs), WR Derek Moye (39 catches, 648 yards, 5 TDs), WR Graham Zug (30 catches, 350 yards, 5 TDs), LB Josh Hull (82 tackles, 2 sacks, 7-1/2 TFLs, 2 INTs), LB Navorro Bowman (53 tackles, 9 TFLs), LB Sean Lee (49 tackles, 8 TFLs), DT Jared Odrick (33 tackles, 6 sacks, 10 TFLs), DE Jack Crawford (28 tackles, 5-1/2 sacks, 13 TFLs).
* Penn State Fast Facts: Location: University Park, Pa.; Enrollment, 44,112; Conference: Big Ten Conference; Nickname, Nittany Lions; Colors, Blue and White; Stadium, Beaver Stadium (surface, grass; capacity, 107,282).
* Ohio State Schedule: Sept. 5, Navy, W 31-27; Sept. 12, USC, L 18-15; Sept. 19, vs. Toledo (at Cleveland), W 38-0; Sept. 26, Illinois, W 30-0; Oct. 3, at Indiana, W 33-14; Oct. 10, Wisconsin, W 31-13; Oct. 17, at Purdue, L 26-18; Oct. 24, Minnesota, W 38-7; Oct. 31, New Mexico State, W 45-0; Nov. 7, at Penn State; Nov. 14, Iowa; Nov. 21, at Michigan.
* Ohio State Key Players (2009 Stats): QB Terrelle Pryor (113 of 207 passing, 1,543 yards, 13 TDs, 9 INTs; 110 carries, 554 yards, 6 TDs), RB Brandon Saine (88 carries, 439 yards, 1 TD), RB Dan Herron (72 carries, 307 yards, 6 TDs), WR DeVier Posey (43 catches, 595 yards, 6 TDs), WR Dane Sanzenbacher (23 catches, 460 yards, 6 TDs), LB Brian Rolle (68 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 INT), LB Ross Homan (66 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs), DB Kurt Coleman (53 tackles, 3 INTs), DE Cameron Heyward (25 tackles, 3 sacks, 4-1/2 TFLs), DE Thaddeus Gibson (27 tackles, 4 sacks, 9-1/2 TFLs).
Depth Charts
Ohio State Offense
WR 8 DeVier Posey, 6-3, 205, So.
9 Duron Carter, 6-2, 190, Fr.
LT 64 Jim Cordle, 6-4, 297, Sr.
55 Andrew Miller, 6-7, 295, Jr.
LG 56 Justin Boren, 6-3, 315, Jr.
55 Andrew Miller, 6-7, 295, Jr.
C 50 Mike Brewster, 6-5, 296, So.
66 Andrew Moses, 6-3, 280, Sr.
RG 70 Bryant Browning, 6-4, 312, Jr.
66 Andrew Moses, 6-3, 280, Sr.
RT 76 J.B. Shugarts, 6-8, 298, So.
79 Marcus Hall, 6-5, 300, Fr.
TE 86 Jake Ballard, 6-6, 256, Sr.
11 Jake Stoneburner, 6-5, 230, R-Fr.
QB 2 Terrelle Pryor, 6-6, 235, So.
14 Joe Bauserman, 6-2, 220, So.
TB 3 Brandon Saine, 6-1, 217, Jr.
1 Dan Herron, 5-10, 193, So.
29 Jordan Hall, 5-10, 190, Fr.
41 Jermil Martin, 6-0, 227, R-Fr.
FB 44 Zach Boren, 6-1, 255, Fr.
49 Adam Homan, 6-4, 235, Fr.
WR 12 Dane Sanzenbacher, 5-11, 175, Jr.
82 Ray Small, 5-11, 180, Sr.
K 17 Ben Buchanan, 6-0, 200, R-Fr.
or 12 Devin Barclay, 5-11, 195, Jr.
Ohio State Defense
DE 90 Thaddeus Gibson, 6-2, 240, Jr.
43 Nathan Williams, 6-4, 245, So.
98 Solomon Thomas, 6-5, 240, So.
DT 84 Doug Worthington, 6-6, 276, Sr
9 Robert Rose, 6-5, 285, Sr.
53 Garrett Goebel, 6-5, 280, R-Fr.
DT 92 Todd Denlinger, 6-2, 292, Sr.
or 72 Dexter Larimore, 6-2, 300, Jr.
54 John Simon, 6-3, 265, Fr.
DE 97 Cameron Heyward, 6-6, 287, Jr.
87 Lawrence Wilson, 6-4, 274, Sr.
WLB 51 Ross Homan, 6-0, 229, Jr.
41 Tony Jackson, 5-11, 227, So.
or 55 Jonathan Newsome, 6-3, 230, Fr.
MLB 36 Brian Rolle, 5-11, 221, Jr.
32 Storm Klein, 6-3, 225, Fr.
SLB 38 Austin Spitler, 6-3, 234, Sr.
6 Etienne Sabino, 6-3, 232, So.
CB 10 Devon Torrence, 6-1, 193, Jr.
13 Andre Amos, 6-1, 183, Sr.
SS 4 Kurt Coleman, 5-11, 188, Sr.
19 Orhian Johnson, 6-2, 178, R-Fr.
FS 21 Anderson Russell, 6-0, 205, Sr.
7 Jermale Hines, 6-2, 210, Jr.
CB 5 Chimdi Chekwa, 6-0, 188, Jr.
18 Travis Howard, 6-1, 180, R-Fr.
P 48 Jon Thoma, 6-2, 201, Sr.
17 Ben Buchanan, 6-0, 200, R-Fr.
Penn State Offense
WR 6 Derek Moye, 6-5, 198, So.
83 Brett Brackett, 6-6, 232, Jr.
LT 73 Dennis Landolt, 6-4, 306, Sr.
50 DeOn’tae Pannell, 6-5, 300, So.
LG 74 Johnnie Troutman, 6-4, 309, So.
54 Matt Stankiewitch, 6-3, 292, R-Fr.
C 61 Stefen Wisniewski, 6-3, 297, Jr.
68 Doug Klopacz, 6-3, 284, Jr.
RG 77 Lou Eliades, 6-4, 310, Jr.
67 Quinn Barham, 6-3, 290, So.
RT 79 Ako Poti, 6-4, 306, Sr.
72 Nerraw McCormack, 6-5, 279, Sr.
TE 10 Andrew Quarless, 6-5, 258, Sr.
82 Mickey Shuler, 6-4, 247, Sr.
QB 17 Daryll Clark, 6-2, 232, Sr.
12 Kevin Newsome, 6-2, 220, Fr.
RB 22 Evan Royster, 6-1, 213, Jr.
21 Stephfon Green, 5-10, 197, So.
or 3 Brandon Beachum, 6-0, 218, So.
WR 2 Chaz Powell, 6-1, 197, So.
7 Curtis Drake, 5-11, 169, Fr.
WR 5 Graham Zug, 6-2, 183, Jr.
20 Devon Smith, 5-7, 153, Fr.
K 36 Collin Wagner, 5-9,173, Jr.
49 Ryan Breen, 6-2, 237, So.
Penn State Defense
DE 5 Jerome Hayes, 6-2, 240, Sr.
or 56 Eric Latimore, 6-6, 270, So.
DT 91 Jared Odrick, 6-5, 296, Sr.
47 Jordan Hill, 6-1, 305, Fr.
DT 85 Ollie Ogbu, 6-1, 285, Jr.
71 Devon Still, 6-5, 294, So.
DE 81 Jack Crawford, 6-5, 256, So.
44 Kevion Latham, 6-2, 254, So.
OLB 45 Sean Lee, 6-2, 236, Sr.
15 Bani Gbadyu, 6-1, 231, Jr.
ILB 43 Josh Hull, 6-2, 236, Sr.
48 Chris Colasanti, 6-2, 238, Jr.
OLB 11 Navorro Bowman, 6-1,230, Jr.
34 Nate Stupar, 6-1, 236, So.
CB 1 A.J. Wallace, 6-1,195, Sr.
4 Knowledge Timmons, 5-10, 182, Sr.
FS 28 Drew Astorino, 5-10, 194, So.
13 Andrew Dailey, 6-2, 217, So.
Hero 18 Nick Sukay, 6-1, 213, So.
7 Cedric Jeffries, 6-2, 205, Jr.
CB 8 D’Anton Lynn, 6-1, 198, So.
12 Stephon Morris, 5-8, 182, Fr.
P 41 Jeremy Boone, 5-9, 168, Sr.
49 Ryan Breen, 6-2, 237, So.
Breaking It Down
* When Ohio State Has The Ball: Ohio State’s offensive output has perked up the last couple of weeks, although neither Minnesota nor New Mexico State will not be regarded by anybody having an outstanding defense.
Penn State boasts – at least statistically – one of the top defenses in the country. PSU is No. 5 nationally in total defense (254.8 yards per game) and tops in scoring defense (9.3 points per game). Again, the lofty numbers are a function of both the strength of the PSU defense and the quality of the teams the Nittany Lions have faced.
The strength of the Penn State defense is in the linebacker corps with Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman outside and Josh Hull in the middle. OSU will have to do its best to get those three playmakers blocked. DT Jared Odrick and DE Jack Crawford are strong up front. The secondary has improved over the course of the season.
Ohio State will try and establish the run. But OSU has struggled setting up second-and-short situations with the run all season. OSU’s best bet may be to rotate tailbacks Boom Herron, Brandon Saine and Jordan Hall. PSU’s run defense is ranked fifth nationally (84.1 ypg).
The key for QB Terrelle Pryor wil be to stay away from the negative play – either a sack or costly turnover. Can Pryor hook up with leading receiver DeVier Posey for some big plays that turn field position? PSU did give up 252 yards passing to Northwestern last week. A year ago, Pryor threw for a season-high 226 yards in the loss to Penn State.
This is a definite step up in class for an OSU offense that has been anything but consistent over the first nine games.
* When Penn State Has The Ball: The Penn State offense sputtered early in the season after losing its top three receivers and three key offensive linemen from a year ago. The Nittany Lions stumbled terribly in their home loss to Iowa, committing four costly turnovers.
QB Daryll Clark threw three interceptions in that loss. But Penn State has not turned it over in any of their last three games. During its current five-game winning streak, PSU has forced 11 turnovers and lost only two.
Clark has several new targets, including wideouts Derek Moye and Graham Zug and tight end Andrew Quarless. They succeed by taking what teams offer them without forcing the issue.
RB Evan Royster has quietly put together a nice season after a slow start. He is up to second in the Big Ten in rushing per game (95.4 yards per game).
The OSU defense has been near lights out this year with three shutouts. Only two teams have reached the 20-point barrier against the Buckeyes this season. The Buckeyes are sixth nationally in total defense (260.0 ypg) and scoring defense (11.7 ppg).
* How It Will Go: This is a tough one to call. These teams usually play tight games. Since Jim Tressel arrived at Ohio State in 2001, five of the eight games in this series have been determined by seven points or less.
Once again, this game matches up two of college football’s top defenses. As Tressel likes to say about Michigan games, every yard in this game will basically count as two.
Ohio State has major incentive, given last year’s painful loss at home to PSU as well as the fact the Buckeyes have a chance at major redemption by winning out and going to the Rose Bowl. Those dreams – as well as most any chance at a fifth straight Big Ten title – would be scuttled with a loss in Happy Valley.
Here’s a stat: OSU has played three teams in the Sagarin computer rankings top 55 and beaten two (Navy and Wisconsin) and lost to one (USC). Penn State has only played one top-55 team and lost to that team (Iowa).
But here’s another: Ohio State hasn’t beaten a team ranked this highly in the AP poll – Penn State is 11th – since it defeated then No. 2-Michigan nearly three years ago in the 2006 regular season finale.
I look a lot at direction as well. Three weeks ago, Ohio State stumbled to a loss at lowly Purdue (the same Purdue that just got blanked by Wisconsin 37-0). OSU took easy wins over Minnesota and New Mexico State the last two weeks, certainly.
But Penn State has played with a vengeance since its loss to Iowa. The Lions have won five in a row, including four straight Big Ten games by an average of 21 points.
In nine games, I haven’t seen Ohio State play a solid, complete game against a quality opponent. Maybe this will be the time for that to change. Maybe if this game was at Ohio Stadium I would feel different. But I think this hurdle is just too high for this team. I’ve got it: Penn State 24-17
* For The Record: I am 7-2 straight-up and 4-5 against-the-spread with Ohio State. (Penn State is a four-point favorite over Ohio State.)
* Other Picks: On this week’s Bucknuts Radio Hour (click here to listen to this great show), opinions were mixed on this game. Mr. Bucknuts picked OSU 17-13. Bill Kurelic said OSU 14-10. Dave Biddle said OSU 20-17. Kirk Larrabee said Penn State 19-14. Jeff Rapp had Penn State 19-14. Jeff Rice from the Centre Daily Times and NittanyNetwork.com picked Penn State 14-10.
-- Steve Helwagen
Bucknuts TV: Scouting Penn State
Bucknuts staff members Steve Helwagen, Jeff Rapp and Dave Biddle add their two cents on OSU-Penn State.
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