Take Penn St & Points vs. Ohio St
Game Time: 9/23/2006 3:30:00 PM
By: Matt Fargo
The Nittany Lions travel to Columbus this Saturday to take on the Ohio St Buckeyes. The 16 points they're giving Penn St is too much to pass up.
This game is being billed as a big revenge game for Ohio St. which it really is as a matter of fact. But revenge can only go so far.
The rushing game will play a decided role in the outcome of his game and the Nittany Lions have a huge edge in that area. A lot can be said about the competition each team has faced, but while Ohio St. has played the 31st ranked schedule, Penn St. isn’t far behind with the 53rd ranked slate. The rushing numbers don’t lie. Penn State is third in the conference in rushing offense with 207.7 ypg. For a team with four first-year starters on the offensive line, this is a pleasant development. The improvement of the new offensive line starters is a direct result of game experience. The Nittany Lions are averaging 6.3 ypc on the ground and they have improved in each of their three games on the season.
While the Buckeyes possessed one of the best rushing defenses last season, this year is a different story. Ohio St. is having trouble stopping the run against the powerful rushing teams this season so far. They began the season yielding 151 rushing yards to Northern Illinois and 172 to Texas before limiting Cincinnati last weekend. The Buckeyes are giving up 106.3 ypg on the ground (eighth in Big Ten) and yielding 293.7 ypg (sixth in the league). Those are not typical Ohio St. averages and the Nittany Lions are not going to be as overpowered as many are saying there are going to be.
Successful rushing is going to be important as it will be up to the Penn St. offense to possess the ball and keep it away from the Ohio St. offense and quarterback Troy Smith. The Buckeyes are rolling with 426.7 ypg on offense but only 139.3 ypg of those are coming on the ground. They are averaging a mere 3.8 ypc and that doesn’t bode well against the Nittany Lions who possess one of the best front sevens in the country. Penn St. is allowing just 63.3 ypg on 1.9 ypc on the ground.
What this line is telling us is that Penn St., who is getting 16 points, is only two touchdowns better than Cincinnati who was getting 30 points last week. That is not even close to being accurate. It is off by about a touchdown and that value is on the Penn St. side this week. The Nittany Lions' loss to Notre Dame has a lot to do with this big spread, but Penn St. was hurt by turnovers in that game as it was outgained by just 15 yards against the Irish.
Expect a closer game on Saturday as Penn St. hangs around, something that 65 percent of the betting public does not think will happen.
Play: Penn St. +16
Game Time: 9/23/2006 3:30:00 PM
By: Matt Fargo
The Nittany Lions travel to Columbus this Saturday to take on the Ohio St Buckeyes. The 16 points they're giving Penn St is too much to pass up.
This game is being billed as a big revenge game for Ohio St. which it really is as a matter of fact. But revenge can only go so far.
The rushing game will play a decided role in the outcome of his game and the Nittany Lions have a huge edge in that area. A lot can be said about the competition each team has faced, but while Ohio St. has played the 31st ranked schedule, Penn St. isn’t far behind with the 53rd ranked slate. The rushing numbers don’t lie. Penn State is third in the conference in rushing offense with 207.7 ypg. For a team with four first-year starters on the offensive line, this is a pleasant development. The improvement of the new offensive line starters is a direct result of game experience. The Nittany Lions are averaging 6.3 ypc on the ground and they have improved in each of their three games on the season.
While the Buckeyes possessed one of the best rushing defenses last season, this year is a different story. Ohio St. is having trouble stopping the run against the powerful rushing teams this season so far. They began the season yielding 151 rushing yards to Northern Illinois and 172 to Texas before limiting Cincinnati last weekend. The Buckeyes are giving up 106.3 ypg on the ground (eighth in Big Ten) and yielding 293.7 ypg (sixth in the league). Those are not typical Ohio St. averages and the Nittany Lions are not going to be as overpowered as many are saying there are going to be.
Successful rushing is going to be important as it will be up to the Penn St. offense to possess the ball and keep it away from the Ohio St. offense and quarterback Troy Smith. The Buckeyes are rolling with 426.7 ypg on offense but only 139.3 ypg of those are coming on the ground. They are averaging a mere 3.8 ypc and that doesn’t bode well against the Nittany Lions who possess one of the best front sevens in the country. Penn St. is allowing just 63.3 ypg on 1.9 ypc on the ground.
What this line is telling us is that Penn St., who is getting 16 points, is only two touchdowns better than Cincinnati who was getting 30 points last week. That is not even close to being accurate. It is off by about a touchdown and that value is on the Penn St. side this week. The Nittany Lions' loss to Notre Dame has a lot to do with this big spread, but Penn St. was hurt by turnovers in that game as it was outgained by just 15 yards against the Irish.
Expect a closer game on Saturday as Penn St. hangs around, something that 65 percent of the betting public does not think will happen.
Play: Penn St. +16
