When is the last time that PSU did what Illinois just did, and pull off

[bcspsu]

an upset when they were such a decided underdog? It just never happens, but it sure happens to PSU too many times. Illinois came into this game as something like a 23 point underdog.

It seems like when PSU is a prohibitive underdog like this weekend, they get their doors blown away. The last game that I recall PSU winning while a huge underdog was the 2016 OSU game. Games like this upcoming weekend are just futile exercises, much like almost all of PSU's Big 10 road hoops games; you just know what's going to happen.

 

[Big 0]

Maybe the Fiesta Bowl in 1987.

 

[Shadow99]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

 

[Erial_Lion]

an upset when they were such a decided underdog? It just never happens, but it sure happens to PSU too many times. Illinois came into this game as something like a 23 point underdog.

It seems like when PSU is a prohibitive underdog like this weekend, they get their doors blown away. The last game that I recall PSU winning while a huge underdog was the 2016 OSU game. Games like this upcoming weekend are just futile exercises, much like almost all of PSU's Big 10 road hoops games; you just know what's going to happen.

What do you consider a "decided underdog"? Since you referenced this coming weekend, let's assume it's 17 or more points. We've only been that big of an underdog once in the past 5 seasons...a game at Ohio State where we were a 20 point dog and lost by 11. Before that, it was the 2016 OSU game where we won as a 17.5 point underdog.

 

[BBrown]

an upset when they were such a decided underdog? It just never happens, but it sure happens to PSU too many times. Illinois came into this game as something like a 23 point underdog.

It seems like when PSU is a prohibitive underdog like this weekend, they get their doors blown away. The last game that I recall PSU winning while a huge underdog was the 2016 OSU game. Games like this upcoming weekend are just futile exercises, much like almost all of PSU's Big 10 road hoops games; you just know what's going to happen.

Probably the Wiscy game Hack's Freshman year.

 

[ram2020]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

100% If then can neutralize our athletes on the outside, what do we really have offensively? God forbid we also have an ailing QB? We can't convert 3rd and 2 against Villanova. Sometimes OSU and Alabama have bad days with explosives, but then they just lean on their imposing linemen and RB's and shove it down their throats, thats a gear we simply don't have and have never had under Franklin.

 

[BBrown]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

As they say "the game is won in the trenches" and that still holds true today, even with the high powered pass games.

 

[Erial_Lion]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

You do realize that Ohio State lost as a 15 point Favorite this season right? Or that Alabama lost as an 18.5 point favorite?

 

[jimjim47]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

LOL "comparable skill players" simply delusional.

 

[danvillenit]

LOL "comparable skill players" simply delusional.

Yup. Part of the Franklin underachieves narrative is this fantasy that we have elite talent.

 

[BW Lion]

Probably the Wiscy game Hack's Freshman year.

That would be my choice as well. A great coaching job by O’Brien

 

[PAgeologist]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

There have been several times PSU was up late against a top notch opponent like OSU, USC, etc and failed to close it out. When you can't control the ball to close out games and keep giving the ball back to the opponent you're going to lose. Even the 2016 OSU game took a blocked FG for a TD to win. How often does that happen. Until the OL and DL get some physical players these collapses will continue. A physical OL and run game most likely results in wins against Iowa and ILL this year alone, plus several others in the recent past.

 

[Shadow99]

LOL "comparable skill players" simply delusional.

No it isn't...Brisker and Porter Jr. couldn't start for those teams? Dotson or Washington couldn't start for those teams? The DEPTH that those teams have is certainly lacking for PSU, but any of the referenced players would be successful at one of the top 5 schools.

So yes, there is an overall difference in the talent of skill players, particularly how many are on the roster at any given time, but the difference in the talent of skill players clearly pales in comparison with the difference in talent on the offensive and defensive lines.

 

[Zone-Blitz]

You do realize that Ohio State lost as a 15 point Favorite this season right? Or that Alabama lost as an 18.5 point favorite?

Yeah but they didn’t lose to teams that are 2-5

 

[MacNit07]

imho there is a reason why PSU is more prone to an upset as opposed to AL, OSU, etc. Despite being favored in most games (similar to those teams), and despite PSU having arguably comparable skill players to those teams, PSU just has not had the dominant lines that those teams tend to have. The line of scrimmage is a great equalizer, despite disparities at other positions.

That is also the reason for the recent thread entitled something to the effect of "OSU shows how to take care of business against an inferior opponent", which was Indiana. Even if things don't click for the OSU offensive skill players or its defensive scheme, the potential damage is limited due to consistently winning the line of scrimmage. PSU does not have those types of dominant lines (and has not had that for quite some time), and THAT imho is precisely why a talented team such as PSU is more vulnerable to upsets than the top 5 teams.

And who is responsible for recruiting lineman?

 

[Noffinater]

an upset when they were such a decided underdog? It just never happens, but it sure happens to PSU too many times. Illinois came into this game as something like a 23 point underdog.

consider how often Illinois is a 3TD+ underdog. It has to be at least 5 times per season. Penn State hasn't been a 3TD under dog to anybody in 5 years.

 

[bvillebaron]

That would be my choice as well. A great coaching job by O’Brien

Ah yes the obligatory BOB’s a genius post. Were you living under a rock when PSU beat OSU in 2016?

 

[BW Lion]

Ah yes the obligatory BOB’s a genius post. Were you living under a rock when PSU beat OSU in 2016?

O'Brien's win wasn't a fluke.

 

[wilbury]

an upset when they were such a decided underdog? It just never happens, but it sure happens to PSU too many times. Illinois came into this game as something like a 23 point underdog.

It seems like when PSU is a prohibitive underdog like this weekend, they get their doors blown away. The last game that I recall PSU winning while a huge underdog was the 2016 OSU game. Games like this upcoming weekend are just futile exercises, much like almost all of PSU's Big 10 road hoops games; you just know what's going to happen.

Good point. If Franklin would just keep us the underdog more often, we'd pull more upsets.