Linesmaker from BetWWTS Perry Perspective: NCAAF Feature
Will the Buckeyes burst JoePa?s bubble?
Hear that? That?s the sound of silent smiles in Happy Valley.
Not so long ago, things weren?t so happy in the Valley. In fact, you likely heard some of the angry roars calling for the head of 78-year-old Joe Paterno, legendary coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Of course, that was before JoePa and the Lions had built a 5-0 record and occupied first place in the Big Ten. Their impressive start has propelled the Lions into what used to be familiar territory: the college football Top 25.
The Lions, who were 7-16 the past two years, debuted at No. 16 in the AP college football rankings this week. It?s the first time Penn St. has cracked the Top 25 since 2002.
Unfortunately, the AP ranking and the happy silence may not last long for ol? Joe. The Lions have enjoyed a fairly soft schedule so far this season and have faced really only one test, Minnesota (4-1).
That all changes on Saturday when Penn St. takes on conference rival No. 6 Ohio St. (3-1). Both teams are undefeated in conference play so far this season ? the Lions are 2-0 and the Buckeyes are 1-0.
One of the big obstacles the Lions will have to overcome is the Buckeyes? stifling defense, which tops the Big Ten. OSU has a particularly nasty rushing defense, which ranks first in the nation allowing a mere 164 yards on the ground over its first four games.
This could be especially troublesome for the Lions, whose offense relies heavily on the running game. Penn St.?s rushing attack ranks No. 6 overall courtesy of running back Tony Hunt (475 yards) and quarterback Michael Robinson (286 yards).
And Robinson, who has passed for more than 1,000 yards, will be kept on his toes by a defense which leads the league in sacks with 16; four of those came by way of senior LB Bobby Carpenter.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Buckeyes have won the last three games against the Lions including a 21-10 victory as 7-point home favorites last October.
We currently have OSU listed as 3-point favorites in what will be the Buckeyes' first road game of the season. On the moneyline, the Buckeyes are -155 and the Lions are +135.
In terms of trends, here?s something interesting to consider: the home team has won and covered the spread in eight out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams. In fact, the home team has covered seven straight times dating back to 1998.
The Buckeyes are 2-2 ATS so far this season compared to 2-3 for the Lions.
Penn St. is coming off a 44-14 shellacking of Minnesota as a measly one-point favorite. OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a rest week after pasting Iowa 31-6 as an 8.5-point chalk on Sept. 24.
With the nation?s No. 12 overall defense (OSU) versus the No. 20 defense, we?ve got the over/under pegged at a fairly tight 42.5 points. The Buckeyes are 2-2 O/U and Penn St. is 3-2 O/U so far this season.
Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU is 17-6 against ranked teams and 5-2 against teams ranked in the Top 10.
Kick off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET (ESPN).
Other games to watch and bet:
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 8 Tennessee
In a battle of SEC heavyweights, No. 5 Georgia (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) visits Knoxville to take on No. 8 Tennessee (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS) at 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS). The Volunteers are listed as 3-point favorites and the total has been set at only 39.5 points. The Vols took last year?s meeting in Georgia 19-14 as 13-point dogs. Could revenge be a factor?
No. 25 Oregon vs. No. 17 Arizona St.
Saturday?s late game (10:00 p.m. ET) features a couple of ranked teams from the Pac-10: No. 25 Oregon (4-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) visits No. 17 Arizona St. (3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS). Both teams have been flattened by No. 1 USC. However, unlike the Ducks, the Sun Devils beat the spread as 17-point dogs versus the Trojans last week. We?ve got the Devils listed as 10-point favorites with the total at a fat 69 points. Together, these two teams are 6-3 on the O/U this season.
Will the Buckeyes burst JoePa?s bubble?
Hear that? That?s the sound of silent smiles in Happy Valley.
Not so long ago, things weren?t so happy in the Valley. In fact, you likely heard some of the angry roars calling for the head of 78-year-old Joe Paterno, legendary coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Of course, that was before JoePa and the Lions had built a 5-0 record and occupied first place in the Big Ten. Their impressive start has propelled the Lions into what used to be familiar territory: the college football Top 25.
The Lions, who were 7-16 the past two years, debuted at No. 16 in the AP college football rankings this week. It?s the first time Penn St. has cracked the Top 25 since 2002.
Unfortunately, the AP ranking and the happy silence may not last long for ol? Joe. The Lions have enjoyed a fairly soft schedule so far this season and have faced really only one test, Minnesota (4-1).
That all changes on Saturday when Penn St. takes on conference rival No. 6 Ohio St. (3-1). Both teams are undefeated in conference play so far this season ? the Lions are 2-0 and the Buckeyes are 1-0.
One of the big obstacles the Lions will have to overcome is the Buckeyes? stifling defense, which tops the Big Ten. OSU has a particularly nasty rushing defense, which ranks first in the nation allowing a mere 164 yards on the ground over its first four games.
This could be especially troublesome for the Lions, whose offense relies heavily on the running game. Penn St.?s rushing attack ranks No. 6 overall courtesy of running back Tony Hunt (475 yards) and quarterback Michael Robinson (286 yards).
And Robinson, who has passed for more than 1,000 yards, will be kept on his toes by a defense which leads the league in sacks with 16; four of those came by way of senior LB Bobby Carpenter.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Buckeyes have won the last three games against the Lions including a 21-10 victory as 7-point home favorites last October.
We currently have OSU listed as 3-point favorites in what will be the Buckeyes' first road game of the season. On the moneyline, the Buckeyes are -155 and the Lions are +135.
In terms of trends, here?s something interesting to consider: the home team has won and covered the spread in eight out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams. In fact, the home team has covered seven straight times dating back to 1998.
The Buckeyes are 2-2 ATS so far this season compared to 2-3 for the Lions.
Penn St. is coming off a 44-14 shellacking of Minnesota as a measly one-point favorite. OSU, meanwhile, is coming off a rest week after pasting Iowa 31-6 as an 8.5-point chalk on Sept. 24.
With the nation?s No. 12 overall defense (OSU) versus the No. 20 defense, we?ve got the over/under pegged at a fairly tight 42.5 points. The Buckeyes are 2-2 O/U and Penn St. is 3-2 O/U so far this season.
Under coach Jim Tressel, OSU is 17-6 against ranked teams and 5-2 against teams ranked in the Top 10.
Kick off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET (ESPN).
Other games to watch and bet:
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 8 Tennessee
In a battle of SEC heavyweights, No. 5 Georgia (4-0 SU, 1-3 ATS) visits Knoxville to take on No. 8 Tennessee (3-1 SU, 1-3 ATS) at 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS). The Volunteers are listed as 3-point favorites and the total has been set at only 39.5 points. The Vols took last year?s meeting in Georgia 19-14 as 13-point dogs. Could revenge be a factor?
No. 25 Oregon vs. No. 17 Arizona St.
Saturday?s late game (10:00 p.m. ET) features a couple of ranked teams from the Pac-10: No. 25 Oregon (4-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) visits No. 17 Arizona St. (3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS). Both teams have been flattened by No. 1 USC. However, unlike the Ducks, the Sun Devils beat the spread as 17-point dogs versus the Trojans last week. We?ve got the Devils listed as 10-point favorites with the total at a fat 69 points. Together, these two teams are 6-3 on the O/U this season.
