1 - What have we seen from PSU to think this game won't be a blowout?
This is mainly taking the view that PSU's offense going against OSU's defense will be a nearly impossible task. For much of the analysis, you're banking on the Temple game tape, and this isn't really the same PSU offense. I'm not saying it's better or worse, but there have been adjustments made that have decreased the pressure on Hack to the point most of the sacks then have been from coverage variety as opposed to lack of protection. If PSU took this same offensive plan into Temple (and feed Barkley more), it's highly unlikely that game takes on the same demeanor.
Has the offense been "great" since Temple? Well, no, but it hasn't altogether stunk either. We knew it was going to be a constant work in progress given where the production has had to come from (i.e., the freshman and sophomores). For the first time this year, PSU will be playing as an underdog and I think that suits this team a lot better.
2 - What have we seen from OSU so far to think PSU can't hang with them?
OSU has been the epitome of "playing to the level of the competition" so far. Lots of Buckeye fans pointing to their offense emerging the last two weeks against terrible IU and Maryland defenses as reason to believe they kick it into gear vs. PSU and blow us out....that's fine and all but is no different than PSU saying our own offense is improving against the same crap resistance.
Bigger worry for OSU would be that their own defense has not been up to par for them lately. Maryland is a terrible football team but that game is tied at 21 in the 2nd half and just a 2 score game going into the final 7 minutes. IU also moved the ball on them and is sitting there 6 yds from a tie game in the final seconds. Penn State - even with our own issues offensively - is a much better overall team than IU and Maryland.
In any case, I would also buy the argument that OSU will be more prepared for PSU given what happened last year and this being a showcase prime time game on their own turf (although he black unis are hideous given the tradition of their normal duds).
I'm thinking its more of a 27-10 type of score. PSU's chances to keep it close bank almost entirely on having Barkley close to 100%, which given the ankle/foot location of that injury just over 2 weeks ago seems like a remote possibility. More than likely we're going to need to be +2 on turnover margin and get some points on short fields or special teams.
This is mainly taking the view that PSU's offense going against OSU's defense will be a nearly impossible task. For much of the analysis, you're banking on the Temple game tape, and this isn't really the same PSU offense. I'm not saying it's better or worse, but there have been adjustments made that have decreased the pressure on Hack to the point most of the sacks then have been from coverage variety as opposed to lack of protection. If PSU took this same offensive plan into Temple (and feed Barkley more), it's highly unlikely that game takes on the same demeanor.
Has the offense been "great" since Temple? Well, no, but it hasn't altogether stunk either. We knew it was going to be a constant work in progress given where the production has had to come from (i.e., the freshman and sophomores). For the first time this year, PSU will be playing as an underdog and I think that suits this team a lot better.
2 - What have we seen from OSU so far to think PSU can't hang with them?
OSU has been the epitome of "playing to the level of the competition" so far. Lots of Buckeye fans pointing to their offense emerging the last two weeks against terrible IU and Maryland defenses as reason to believe they kick it into gear vs. PSU and blow us out....that's fine and all but is no different than PSU saying our own offense is improving against the same crap resistance.
Bigger worry for OSU would be that their own defense has not been up to par for them lately. Maryland is a terrible football team but that game is tied at 21 in the 2nd half and just a 2 score game going into the final 7 minutes. IU also moved the ball on them and is sitting there 6 yds from a tie game in the final seconds. Penn State - even with our own issues offensively - is a much better overall team than IU and Maryland.
In any case, I would also buy the argument that OSU will be more prepared for PSU given what happened last year and this being a showcase prime time game on their own turf (although he black unis are hideous given the tradition of their normal duds).
I'm thinking its more of a 27-10 type of score. PSU's chances to keep it close bank almost entirely on having Barkley close to 100%, which given the ankle/foot location of that injury just over 2 weeks ago seems like a remote possibility. More than likely we're going to need to be +2 on turnover margin and get some points on short fields or special teams.
