Penn State – Ohio: Prediction Roundtable

The score 24-13 PSU has been stuck in my mind since the middle of last week so I am going to go with it. However, I do not believe that this will be an easy game. I see total yardage being about equal; however, PSU will make two stops in the red zone holding Ohio to FGs on those drives. I also think the defense will either score a TD or set up a very short drive for one via a turnover.

PSU: 24
Ohio: 13

It’s not often you could say this, but this 17 point game won’t be that close.  These Nittany Lions have been waiting almost 8 months for this, and they are going to come out fired up.  A revamped, aggressive PSU defense rides the emotion and a boisterous crowd to a couple of early turnovers, which McGloin and the offense take advantage of for 2 quick touchdowns and ride the momentum the rest of the way.  Ohio scores late to make it respectable, but most of the crowd has filed back out to their tailgates by the time it happens, celebrating the first bit of good news for the football program in months.

PSU: 31
Ohio: 14

Penn State and their fans have been looking forward to this game for quite some time.  Everyone is going to be JACKED!! How the Nittany Lions handle their emotions and play within the new style set up by Coach O’Brien will determine the outcome of this game.  Coming off a 10-win season and a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Utah State, Coach Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats are going to be no pushover, make no mistake about it!  They are the defending MAC East champions and they return 3,000 yard passer Tyler Tettleton who will be running a no-huddle offense again this year.  Their defense could easily be the best in Solich’s 8 years in Athens, Ohio.  Finally, the weather is expected to be hot and humid on Saturday and the off-season strength and conditioning program of Craig Fitzgerald will definitely come into play.  At the end of the day the Lions should have the edge, but this game will be closer than most Nittany Lions fans think.  Expect the Victory Bell to ring after O’Brien’s first win as head coach, and the first win by a head coach at Beaver Field / Stadium other than Joe Paterno since November 13, 1965.

PSU: 27
Ohio: 17

Bill O’Brien says he and his staff have been watching the Ohio film for months. That advantage can’t be understated, as Frank Solich and crew simply do not have that same advantage. The offense catches OU off guard early-on and the Penn State front seven quickly neutralizes Tyler Tettleton’s read-option, forcing him to throw under pressure. The Penn State fans rejoice and Bill O’Brien gets win number one.