Buckeyes battle Big Ten rival Nittany Lions
The Texas Longhorns already learned that payback's a bitch when they faced Ohio State earlier this season. If the Buckeyes have anything to say about it, they'll be sending the same message to Penn State this weekend.
Ohio State only lost two games last season, to Texas and Penn State. The Buckeyes got their revenge on the Longhorns two weeks ago with a 24-7 victory in Texas. This weekend Ohio State welcomes Penn State to town knowing full well that they haven't lost since meeting up with the Nittany Lions last season. That loss eliminated any lingering hopes that Ohio State had at a national championship run. This season the Buckeyes can end the Lions' slim championship hopes with a win.
The Buckeyes are the favorite heading into this game and they rightfully should be considering they are the top-ranked school in the nation and boast one of the most explosive offenses in college football. Quarterback Troy Smith gets another shot at Penn State after a disappointing performance last time out. Smith completed only 13-of-25 passes for 139 yards with no touchdown passes and an interception in Ohio State's 17-10 loss to Penn State last season.
It's a different Smith behind center this year though, and the numbers prove it. Smith has a 69.1 passing percentage this season and has thrown for 769 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. What makes Smith even more dangerous are the weapons at his disposal. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has speed to burn and has used it this season to catch five touchdown passes. Ginn Jr.'s immense talent has opened the door for another talented Buckeyes' wideout, Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez has made the most of Ginn Jr.'s double teams to the tune of a team-leading 340 receiving yards and three touchdowns. When Smith isn't throwing the ball to Ginn Jr. or Gonzalez, he's handing the ball off to running back Antonio Pittman who has been rolling over defenses this season. Pittman has rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries.
The Nittany Lions rebounded from their 41-17 blowout loss to Notre Dame with a 37-3 drubbing of Youngstown State last week, but comparing Youngstown State to Ohio State is like comparing a mouse to a rhinoceros. The Lions once-ferocious defense lost a lot of its bite after losing seven starters from a year ago.
If Penn State hopes to have a chance versus Ohio State they will need quarterback Anthony Morelli and running back Tony Hunt to keep up to the scoring pace set by the Buckeyes. Morelli has put up some pretty good numbers so far this season with 549 passing yards, four touchdowns and an interception, but he had his worst game of the season last week versus Youngstown State with only 154 passing yards and no touchdowns. The exact opposite is true of Hunt, who broke out last week, rushing for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Kickoff is 3:30 pm ET on ABC.
Click here for Live Lines, Cash Games and more...
The Texas Longhorns already learned that payback's a bitch when they faced Ohio State earlier this season. If the Buckeyes have anything to say about it, they'll be sending the same message to Penn State this weekend.
Ohio State only lost two games last season, to Texas and Penn State. The Buckeyes got their revenge on the Longhorns two weeks ago with a 24-7 victory in Texas. This weekend Ohio State welcomes Penn State to town knowing full well that they haven't lost since meeting up with the Nittany Lions last season. That loss eliminated any lingering hopes that Ohio State had at a national championship run. This season the Buckeyes can end the Lions' slim championship hopes with a win.
The Buckeyes are the favorite heading into this game and they rightfully should be considering they are the top-ranked school in the nation and boast one of the most explosive offenses in college football. Quarterback Troy Smith gets another shot at Penn State after a disappointing performance last time out. Smith completed only 13-of-25 passes for 139 yards with no touchdown passes and an interception in Ohio State's 17-10 loss to Penn State last season.
It's a different Smith behind center this year though, and the numbers prove it. Smith has a 69.1 passing percentage this season and has thrown for 769 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. What makes Smith even more dangerous are the weapons at his disposal. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has speed to burn and has used it this season to catch five touchdown passes. Ginn Jr.'s immense talent has opened the door for another talented Buckeyes' wideout, Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez has made the most of Ginn Jr.'s double teams to the tune of a team-leading 340 receiving yards and three touchdowns. When Smith isn't throwing the ball to Ginn Jr. or Gonzalez, he's handing the ball off to running back Antonio Pittman who has been rolling over defenses this season. Pittman has rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries.
The Nittany Lions rebounded from their 41-17 blowout loss to Notre Dame with a 37-3 drubbing of Youngstown State last week, but comparing Youngstown State to Ohio State is like comparing a mouse to a rhinoceros. The Lions once-ferocious defense lost a lot of its bite after losing seven starters from a year ago.
If Penn State hopes to have a chance versus Ohio State they will need quarterback Anthony Morelli and running back Tony Hunt to keep up to the scoring pace set by the Buckeyes. Morelli has put up some pretty good numbers so far this season with 549 passing yards, four touchdowns and an interception, but he had his worst game of the season last week versus Youngstown State with only 154 passing yards and no touchdowns. The exact opposite is true of Hunt, who broke out last week, rushing for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Kickoff is 3:30 pm ET on ABC.
Click here for Live Lines, Cash Games and more...
