A game everyone has pointed to at the beginning of the year is finally here and the entire college football world will be tuned in. Ohio State hosts Penn State in a top ten matchup Saturday inside Ohio Stadium, and there’s a ton on the line.
Both teams are unbeaten, both have a ton of talent, and both have designs of a Big Ten title and berth in the College Football Playoff. But first things first, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions will have to win what looks like a war of attrition on Saturday, come out the other end, and move on towards other matchups — notably against Michigan — and put their best foot forward in an effort to keep a lot of those goals on the table.
Each week we ask our writers to weigh in on what they think will happen with that week’s Ohio State game, and it’s time for that again. We have five writers all with differing opinions and here’s what each says about a prediction for the game and a reason why things will play out they way they see them.
Phil Harrison, Publisher/Editor and Featured Writer
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The Prediction
I feel like I’m the Debbie Downer on this site when it comes to what I’ve seen from Ohio State and I’ll bringing things down a level again. I very much want to see the Buckeyes pull this one out, but a study of the game film and breakdown of what we’ve seen from each team has me believing Penn State is the more complete team this year.
The Buckeyes’ offense has just been sort of clunky and inconsistent and I don’t know how the lights suddenly go on against a very, very good defense. Add that to some unknowns with which stars will be available for Ohio State and there’s too much working against the scarlet and gray here. I expect the game to be close (it almost always is against the Nittany Lions), but I have Penn State winning a close one.
Score
Penn State 27, Ohio State 24
The Prediction
Another tough test for Ohio State, this time at home. That’s where I believe the biggest advantage for the Buckeyes is, home cooking. Penn State’s schedule hasn’t been nearly as challenging, and that experience will show on Saturday morning. It’s still going to be a slugfest, but I have the Buckeyes winning a close one.
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