Before I start let me say that I have been critical of the defense and sometimes even doubtful about whether we would win, but Urban and the Buckeyes always seem to amaze me.
Kyle Rowland tweeted that the 11W staff was taking the Buckeyes 27-24, but he is taking State Penn 24-21... It has been rough at times this season, but when talent wasn't enough for our team their heart and will took over. On the thread of State Penn predictions some people are taking them and not us. I don't want to seem overconfident, but I feel we have the talent and coaching staff to beat everyone on our schedule home or away. Other than being on the road, what worry is there about the game? Their opponents record this year is a combined 26-23. They're just now starting the meat of their schedule with us, Nebraska, Purdue, and Wisconsin still left. They haven't faced a QB as dynamic as Braxton and they haven't faced a RB like Carlos Hyde. Plus... Our offensive staff hasn't completely opened up the whole playbook. I know their LB's are good, but we run the spread and that is an advantage for us. We spread the field, force a LB to cover Hyde in space, and that leaves a 1 on 1 match up for Braxton and the other LB. I think he wins that every time. Also, they run a pro-style offense. When our defense has had tough games, it has been against spread offenses. McGroin sitting in the pocket is a plus for Hankins, Simon, Spence, etc. I know on paper they're pretty good, but we are still the better team and should prevail tomorrow.
I don't want to come off cocky, but I am also not going to pick State Penn over us. On a level of 1 to 10, how worried are you about tomorrow?
Me: 3
7
7.2
JT
9
If we had a bowl game or conference title on the line, it would be a 10.
I've said before, PSU has better talent than Indiana, despite the preseason transfers.
8 is great.
vacuuming sucks
I agree about the IU statement.... But PSU also has a dropback passing QB which should be a plus for our defensive line. I'd let Spence go to work. I have seen him twice in person this year and he is so quick off of the line and the OT can't handle him. I believe our d-line will be the difference in the game and cause havoc.
8
I found myself losing sleep over the thought of this game.
You tell the SEC when they can learn to read and write, then they can figure out what we're doing. - Gordon Gee
Coming off the way we played against Purdue, yes, this PSU game troubles me a bit. If our Offense can get back on track, I won't be so worried, but then our Defense also has to stay strong.
7.5
8
4
4
Class of 2010.
9
They have a vanilla offense, but they play it well. Also have a solid defense. This is the best team we have played so far. May be the best team we play this year. At least the most balanced.
Bucktooooooth, heeyaw.
8
I freaking live in st. College and I want osu to win sooooo badly!
We have been playing abysmal D and we need a solid D this weekend to win.
But if our O is on, I think we can win in shootout.
Another thing I should have mentioned before. It seems like we've been losing the turnover battle lately, but we've still managed to win. I'm not sure we can do that at Happy Valley.
9.5
@OP...
3-4. However, the last time I felt this confident heading into HV was 2005 so that actually has me (side?) worried at like a 7-8.
I think we will over match Penn State. Until now, they have been able to weather the storm of lost players and their talent deficiencies have not cost them against talent superior opponents, because they really haven't played any yet.
That stops tomorrow. We simply have the better staff (although I think BO'B has done a fantastic job) and a far more talented and deep team.
The key to victory will be jumping on Penn State early, both sides of the football, and silencing their crowd. If we can accomplish that then I think we can make this an easy game for us. If we can't, I think we're in for a real fight and I have fears of 2008 all over again.
"They don't know what they don't know." - Coach Mick
8.
im at a 5. only because im not quite sure of what they really have. I have watched them a few times on TV and havent been impressed with anything they do. The competition is weak in comparision to what we have played. They have 0 kicking game. So if Ohio state can win the field position game, this thing is over.
6
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
8.5
2.
405\705-%57. 7500 yards, 6.9 YPA.
Matt McGloin is still Matt McGloin. He's played more bad games in 2.5 years than good ones and this recent little run doesn't do enough to scare me. We're gonna fuck this guy's world up and send him back to earth.
Regression to the mean, ladies and gentlemen. At this point in his career he is what he is and will show that to Ohio State in spades tommorow.
OSU by 2 TD's.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I'm more worried about OSU fans safety . Seriously.
That's a legit concern. Oakland Raiders fans look at PSU fans with disdain.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
3. Penn State hasn't beaten anyone significant this season. Beating the scum of the B1G in a horrible year isn't impressive to me. Let alone a loss to OU and Virginia.
If OU beats Penn State and OSU doesn't, I'll murder someone.
1
we are way more talented then them for starters
we have a better coaching staff
besides their linebackers we are better at every position
we wont show up flat like we did against purdont
i think our gameplan is going to be very creative
urban f'ing meyer doesnt lose football games to rival schools
I have no fear of State Penn but my paranoid tendencies cause my stress level to remain about a 3 or 4.
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
9 ( i.e extreemly worried) hope the team will step it up as they did during MSU and Nebraska ( and last 0.47 min of Purdue ) games and win this one
9, they are playing well since the opening two weeks. They get better on offense each week, and we know they have a stout defense. Probably a much better d than Purdue, very hostile setting.... our toughest game yet IMO.
I'm also a Karma person, and worry about all the people bashing their program and fans during the whole Sandusky mess.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.
4 because the defensive player who claimed not to know who Carlos Hyde was, has awakened the sleeping dragon. Hyde/Smith will batter them into submission for four quarters.
~Because we couldn't go for three~
5.... I don't look at the Indiana game as any type of indication.... the thing is, its all about matchups on any given day. The offense against nebraska and Indiana didnt show up against purdue.... why? The defense does great some games, Purdue, and lacks others, indiana... Why?
All about match ups on that day. I think tOSU has this game in hand, but there could be a few plays here or there that make me tear my hair out and yet at my tv.
My boss told me I should get one of those foam brick things about the size of a real brick, but pure foam, so when you get pissed off, you can throw it at the wall, but it does not go anayway, and fizzles out before it hits the wall, so it makes you look ridiculously stupid, getting upset and not being able to throw a bfoam brick, haha..
maybe a 4, but 5 tops....
edit: i apologize for the typos, sitting in an awkward position and trying to help the GF make dinner. real hungry
I'm gonna give this a 2. As long as our offense gets going no way penn state can keep up. They take the crowd out by halftime.
"Do not pray for an easy life. Rather, pray for the the strength to endure a difficult one" - Bruce Lee
4 - you just never know with our team this year, but we have good coaching and enough talent. I do think we have to come out strong and put up points though.
3-4 Feeling like they looked past Indiana & Purdue both. Against Nebraska - they were prepared & focused on that game. I think they will take this one seriously & come out strong. It won't be easy by any means & it will be a good game...but I'm just not as worried as I've been other times this year.
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
They lost to UVA...enough said!
^^^If they had a kicker, they wouldn't have lost to UVA...Penn St is playing good football. Happy Valley is a tough place at night and I'm not sure Braxton will be 100%...not to mention our defensive play...I'll say 6
8, but I was probably an 8 before the Nebraska game too and we blew them off the field
"You're pissed because we went after a committed guy? Guess what, we got 9 guys who better go do it again," said Meyer. "Do it a little harder next time."
urban owns punann
mark may wins douchebag of the year... again
9.5.... not so much a knock against our boys...I think they are just the more complete team and McGloin has the ability to shred our defense... I wouldnt expect a lot on the ground from them but their TEs are fantastic... we'd need a balanced offense and a big night from Braxton to win this one and our defense would have to build off of a promising game against Purdue but as of now, just dont see it all coming together.
9
PSU is not a great team and we have more talent, but they've been very consistent in the level of their play after the first two games. We have been wildly inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Sometimes our offense is basically unstoppable and other times it looks inept. Sometimes our defense is relatively solid and other times it couldn't stop a grandmother swinging a pillow.
our special teams has been similarly inconsistent.
That contrast is very worrisome. On talent we're just plain better but I give the edge to PSU because we have a much higher chance of starting slow, playing flat, giving up big plays, or just not putting it together.
Consistency is the most dangerous thing in the world to a team like ours this year.
We're fully capable of demolishing them by 40, but this is still the game that should most worry everybody (discounting TSUN because that game is always separate from the rest the season).
The more traash talk I hear from penn state the more im starting to feel that we will roll in this one. We are definetely the better team and I know urban will have us ready. We will struggle in the first quarter but I think we destroy them by at least 30 points.
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
8.5-9 simply because you never know what OSU team is going to show up. We have looked great some games then terrible the next. With PSU on a little hot streak anything can happen if we go in there sleep walking. Im not even gonna comment on our defense. Lets just hope they can remember how to tackle...
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
My worry level is about a 7.5... I hate Penn State (and their toolbag fans) and even though we're their biggest rival, they're stuggling to be our 3rd best... However a minimal rivalry this is, Urban does not lose rivalry games. And look what we did to Nebraska on the big stage, and we actually like those people. Penn State has a very competent front seven. We need to throw the deep ball (and D. Smith, catch that sucker!) and exploit the mismatch on special teams. Go Bucks!
@johnblair, im not actually sure about that, overall perhaps but offensively i would go so far as to say they had speedier guys
I'd say a seven. Worried just about every conf. Game ESP a road game. Not that I lack confidence, just u never know what team is gonna show up
7 or 8, but honestly I've felt that way ever since UAB. I don't think there's a team in the country that we can't beat, but in the same thought there isn't a team remaining on our schedule that I couldn't see beating us (even Illinois for god sake). Either way I am just going to enjoy the game and watch the growth of our staff and players!
I'm probably at a 6. I love this team just as I love all of the OSU teams but obviously our level of play at times has given me worry. I do't feel like PSU is a powerhouse but talent is high and that environment at night is tough to play in.
I will not be surprised one bit if we go in there and stuff the running game, pressure the QB and sack him 5 times, cause problems in the passing game and get out with a 31-17 win.
Similarly, I will not be surprised to find us getting no pressure on the QB and getting beat up in the passing game with us picking up our first L on the season.
The signs that have led to me "not being surprised with a L" is what worries me!
GO BUCKS!
8 - Two reasons:
We have not been playing well lately. Penn State has.
The bigger factor is that we have a whole lot of guys playing hurt and a few not playing at all. We are so thin. Any additional injuries are going to be hard to over come.
Not as much after seeing how bad Iowa looks against Northwestern. 6...we win by 7
D. Anthony
I agree.. Iowa is bad... Bucks win by 14 and no nitroglycerin needed this wk..
9, as usual. I just don't see how we can have this many injuries and this level of inconsistency and not start to feel it on the scoreboard. But mostly, it's Penn State. The risk of losing to them might not be as high as it is some years, but it's just so awful to lose to them that I'd be worried no matter what-- similar to the difference between walking across a balance beam on the ground or doing it twenty feet up.
'Bout a 6.
We've beaten the number 5 defense (MSU) and number 12 offense (Nebraska). Penn State has beaten the 33 ranked defense (Iowa) and 67 ranked offense (Nerwestern). Those are their best wins.
PSU has number 22 defense and 59 offense.
Ohio state ranks 63 defense and 40 offense.
I think we've got this, but Penn State will be ready to play!
I hope our boys show up and play fast! I think Urbs will have a few special plays for this game.