[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]
Penn State vs. Ohio State fearless prediction and game preview.
Penn State vs. Ohio State Broadcast
Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Network: FOX
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Penn State (9-1) vs. Ohio State (10-0) Game Preview
If want in on this week’s games, sign up with BetMGM
Why Penn State Will Win
With some due respect to Wisconsin, Penn State is getting off the bus with the most impressive, athletic, and toughest defensive front that Ohio State has faced all year.
There are issues with the Nittany Lion D – getting to that in a moment – but but no one has been able to run for more than 3.5 yards per carry on this bunch, no one has hit the 200-yard mark, and only three teams have been able to push past 100 yards.
It can get pounded on a bit – Michigan was able to get physical in the second half – but the next-level talent in several spots makes up for it by getting behind the line and not allowing any sort of a big play on the ground.
The Ohio State offensive line has been fantastic, but it had problems keeping Wisconsin out of the backfield, giving up five sacks. Start with Penn State being even better at getting to the quarterback, and go from there.
Fields is going to have to be even quicker with his decision-making ability this week, and he’s not going to be able to take off and run at will.
Offensively, Penn State has the quick strike ability to at least answer the Ohio State home runs.
The O doesn’t have the ability to keep up if this gets into a wild shootout if the Buckeyes go off, but KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson are each averaging over 17 yards per catch, the tight ends are dangerous, and the offense has found something over the last two weeks in RB Journey Brown, who followed up a 124-yard day against Minnesota with 100 yards against Indiana.
However …
– “Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released
Why Ohio State Will Win
It’s a stretch to suggest that Penn State has been exposed over the last few weeks, but for all the good things this team has done, and for as good as it is, it’s got a few major flaws that aren’t going to play well in Columbus.
First of all, it’s not consistent enough in the passing game.
Penn State quarterbacks haven’t needed to be deadly accurate lately to succeed – Trace McSorley only connected on 53% of his throws last year – but it’s occasionally a problem. Sean Clifford has been fine, and he’s hitting on a few big plays, but he only completed 48% of his passes against Indiana a week after throwing three picks in the loss to Minnesota.
He’s had a few moments – he was fantastic in the win over Maryland back in September – and he hit Michigan State for four scores, but against this NFL Ohio State secondary, not being razor-sharp is a problem against the No. 1 D in America.
The No. 1 D in America that gets back a fresh, rested and surly Chase Young.
The other big problem? The Penn State secondary is having a few issues.
It’s been able to bend-but-not break in several games – Pitt and Iowa were able to throw, and Michigan’s Shea Patterson got rolling in the second half – and then Tanner Morgan went off. The Minnesota quarterback hit 18-of-20 passes for 339 yards and three scores, hitting the Nittany Lions for big play after big play.
Indiana’s Peyton Ramsey followed that up with a 371-yard day in last week’s loss.
Ohio State? It’s averaging over 13-yard per completion with the fourth-most efficient passing game in America. And …
[lawrence-related id=500899]
What’s Going To Happen
Justin Fields can run.
Yes, Penn State’s defensive front is the real deal, and it’s going to generate pressure, but it hasn’t faced a mobile quarterback yet who can blast away with the big dashes like Fields can.
It’s the final home game of the year, it’s the week before Michigan, and it’s the return of the best defensive player in college football to a defense that doesn’t need him.
Penn State is really, really good. It’s about to have a rough day.
Penn State vs. Ohio State Prediction, Line
Ohio State 37, Penn State 17
Bet on PSU vs. OSU with BetMGM, or for latest line
Ohio State -18.5, o/u: 57.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
– Get Tickets For This Game
Must See Rating: 5
5: Citizen K
1: Frozen II
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]