Penn State Football Prediction Roundtable: Nittany Lions at Buckeyes

Shane Lunnen, Contributor

This is a huge game for both teams with so much riding on the line. A win gives either team the inside track to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game plus keeps their playoff hopes alive. The stakes are big and the hype surrounding the game is through the roof.

The Buckeyes offense has awakened since their loss to Oklahoma. They have averaged 53 points a game over the last five contests, but their opponents must be considered. Ohio State has not exactly played murderer’s row. Over the five game span, quarterback J.T. Barrett has thrown 18 touchdowns and no interceptions, while averaging a 71.6 completion percentage. Has the offense really been fixed or is it the result of the poor competition? We’ll find out Saturday for sure as Penn State’s defense is one of the best in the country.

Ohio State is stacked on their defensive front seven. Penn State’s offensive line handled Michigan’s defense but can they do it again? The Buckeyes boast the conference’s best linebacker unit and they love to dial up the blitzes. Joe Moorhead will need to game plan to neutralize or at least slow down the Buckeyes’ attacking defense. If there is one weakness on Ohio State, it is their young secondary. Penn State has the mismatches at wide receiver and tight end to give Ohio State fits. The key will be giving Trace McSorley enough time to find his open receiver.

I’ve gone back and forth on this pick multiple times. I was confident in getting a victory over Michigan last week, but did not expect the dismantling of the Wolverine defense that we saw. Being the road team in Columbus is a different beast along with Ohio State having two weeks to prepare. I’m ignoring all the revenge talk because Penn State has claim to it as much as Ohio State does. Ohio State’s season a year ago was ultimately not derailed since they still made the playoff and subsequently got shutout by Clemson.

If there is one thing we have learned over the last season and a half about these Lions is they do not quit. They will fight tooth and nail until the bitter end. A bunch of fighters would be the coined phrase. I’m not as confident as last week, but I haven’t picked against Penn State since the last time these two teams met.

Saquon Barkley will be slowed down a bit, but ultimately get over the century mark in rushing and receiving. Look for Mike Gesicki and DaeSean Hamilton to come up with the big catches to keep drives moving and scoring a touchdown each, with Barkley and McSorley adding scores on the ground.  The Lions edge the Buckeyes in a huge victory.

Penn State 28
Ohio State 21