Ohio State Football: Buckeye Blitz for showdown under the lights
Just one week after their opener, Ohio State now face their toughest opposition of the season as they head to Happy Valley to face Penn State in primetime.
The showdown between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions is the biggest game of the week in college football, and while garner a lot of attention. The Nittany Lions face their toughest test a week after falling to Indiana 36-35 in overtime, while the Buckeyes cruise in comfortably after a 52-17 win over Nebraska.
#3 Ohio State at #18 Penn State — 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Line: OHST -11.0; O/U: 64.5
Justin Fields was nearly perfect for Ohio State last Saturday against Nebraska, with his only incompletion on a dime to the endzone where the receiver (Chris Olave) was upended and lost control of the ball. Completing 20 of 21 passes for 276 yards and 2 TDs, while adding 54 yards and a TD on the ground, Fields will be the focus for the Penn State defense.
The Penn State defense allowed 36 points, but the three turnovers by their offense put their defense in several bad spots. Allowing just 211 total yards – 41 rushing – the Penn State defense played well with a lot of field behind them.
In Saturday’s primetime match-up against the Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions will have to avoid turnovers if they hope to compete. Missing their leader on defense because of an opt-out (LB Micah Parsons) and No. 1 and 2 running backs to injuries (Journey Brown and Noah Cain), the depleted Nittany Lions will have a mountain to climb.
Last week, the Buckeyes defense forced two fumbles, and with a third-stringer at running back, expect a fumble or two again against the Nittany Lions.
Stopping Penn State QB Sean Clifford – 24-35, 238 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 119 rushing yards, and 1 TD – will be the key for the Ohio State defense. If the Silver Bullets can force a fumble and get their first interception of the year, and Fields capitalizes on offense, this game might not even be close.
Expect the offenses to go up and down the field, with the Buckeyes defense making a few more stops to get a comfortable win and cement their CFP status after just two games.
Ohio State 42, Penn State 24
Now, onto some of the other games to watch this Saturday.