What with Ohio State playing at Penn State this weekend being the only game between quality opponents in the Big Ten this weekend (Purdue better not even have a contest with Northwestern), there have been all sorts of professions about how good this match up should be, so I figured that I would read up on the OSU-PSU game and break it down, Fire Joe Morgan style. (Ken Tremendous I am not.) The culprit journalist? Bruce Hooley at ESPN.com.
Penn State’s defense, Happy Valley Crowd should test Ohio
State
So far, we’re in agreement. OSU struggled last week against Michigan State and didn’t play really well on the road at Purdue.
Indeed, Ohio State’s ascent to the top of the BCS standings has been as uneventful as retrieving the morning newspaper from the front porch
Well, the Buckeyes did go on the road against a ranked opponent. And…
The Buckeyes’ closest call came last Saturday against Michigan State, 24-17
That’s right. Thanks for the reminder.
but the score was more mirage than anything.
Oh? Tell me more Bruce Hooley.
The Spartans scored two touchdowns on an interception return and fumble return.
So, having turning the ball over is never caused by good defense? Michigan State didn’t you know, force a turnover? Right. No. Because that would mean Ohio State had been tested.
Admittedly, that wasn’t as bad as I was expecting after watching TV and hearing that Ohio State hasn’t been tested this season. Purdue was ranked higher than Penn State is presently and OSU played poorly, and if the Boilermakers had showed up with a quarterback or a defensive coordinator, it would have been a lot closer. Additionally, Penn State gave up 31 points against Indiana, which Penn State just shouldn’t do, save for during basketball games. Of course, this would just be chalked up as an OSU win if the game weren’t on ABC.
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