For the big, overhyped, smashmouth slugfest Game of the Century (of the Week) in Columbus, the Nittany Lions open up as early sports book favorites, by 2½ points, as it were. We’ll watch that as the week progresses.
Seems as if the bookies are giving OSU a little more respect than PSU fans are. ????? ??? This is a tough call. The boys are traveling to a venue where it is difficult to steal a victory. Terrelle Prior has the capability of beating the Lions’ defense with his feet, but how well has he developed as a passer? ??? ???? ????? Certainly with him and Beanie Wells in the same backfield, the Penn State defense better be sharp from the start, unlike their uneven effort against Michigan. ????? ????? ?? bet365 While the adjustments against the Wolverines proved effective, Michigan sucks. Ohio State does not suck. Therefore, they better be banging on all cylinders from the get-go.
Is that clear?
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jd says
i really don’t think we should be favored. if anything i would say osu -3, the spread due to homefield advantage.
same as the past few weeks-just stop the run (by wells and pryor), and make them throw.
and by all means, come out swingin’. and run the ball right down laurinitis’ throat.
jed says
There should be enough film on Prior by this time for the defense to use. This will be a test for both Prior and PSU, the winner getting the Rose Bowl. JD , I’m with you …OSU by 3 or 4….however , I haven’t been right about anything this year. This is the mother of all games….GO LIONS
GH says
With Penn State’s offense and the margins of victory PSU has had this season, I am not surprised PSU is favored. I think OSU would need to build a substantial 1st half lead to have a shot at winning since The Vest seems to operate on the principle that marquee game halftime adjustments are not necessary and that the day’s game plan is good enough. Hopefully, they’ve worked on the passing game this week since PSU will obviously be focusing on Wells and Pryor.
However this may turn out, I expect this should be one of the better games of the season. Good luck. Go Bucks!
The Nittany Turkey says
Film on Pryor is one thing, but raw talent and variety in the running attack, along with a good offensive line, makes this look like a tough one to this Turkey. Hull is the wrong guy in the middle to keep track of Pryor. Perhaps we’ll see more of Mauti and Gbadyu. Nevertheless, the OSU running attack is going to be tough to defend against. If Pryor has improved his passing measurably as well, we’re in deep doo-doo. Just look at what they did to Moo U.—granted, a single-dimensional, offense-minded team–in their 45-7 rout. Beanie had 140 on the ground and Pryor had 72. They didn’t really need the passing game, but Pryor went 7-11 for 116 yards. Plus, their defense held the vaunted Javon Ringer to 67 yards.
Jed, PSU is still in the running for the SSMNC in Miami, but if they win out and miss due to the screwed-up BCS system, they’ll probably wind up in some other screwed up BCS bowl. If they lose this one, they might still wind up in some other screwed up BCS bowl. Remember that the old conference affiliations don’t mean squat anymore when bowls get an either/or pick of the conference champ or best available.
—TNT
The Nittany Turkey says
GH, I see that you snuck a Go Bucks in while I was submitting my response to jd and jed. Best of luck to your guys, too, and may the better team leave with all the marbles.
—TNT
jed says
I stand corrected on the bowl situation, as I see the CBS Sports line has us picked for the Fiesta bowl. My point on Prior is; that he has never, in his young life, been up against a defense as tough or well coached as PSU. We will see what raw talent will do against a man who has seen it all. No argument as to the fact that this is no cake-walk. perhaps the best game of the year. Play it a down at a time, stay at home and don’t try to make big plays, tackle hard, and do it well! The wine is in the frig’…..GO LIONS
The Nittany Turkey says
I agree with one exception. If the big play is there, GO FOR IT!
—TNT
jd says
this thread made me feel a little better about pryor:
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=157&f=1395&t=3253542
still, he is a freak and has wells in the backfield.
jed says
On big plays; if you get down on points don’t try to make a big play and end up in a bad situation. Whoever makes the least mistakes will win this game. …basics will win this game. JD’s link underscores my thoughts, if anyone knows Prior it PSU. He has some weakness and it must be exploited, Bradley is the man to do it. We have a great defense . This will require many bottles of wine and well chewed fingernails. Does your medical plan cover a stand-by team of medics?
The Nittany Turkey says
I shall be watching this through the fog of a Pennsylvania-generated upper respiratory infection. Nevertheless, it is going to be damned interesting to watch.
I maintain my NFL attitude that if a big play is there, TAKE IT! I know that’s antithetical to the Paterno road philosophy, but why the hell do you think Penn State drops so many close games on the road? To beat quality opponents, yeah, the fundamentals have to be sound, but the Lions will probably have to take a few risks here and there. To play with the ultimate aim of winning a 7-3 game will be self-defeating.
As for Pryor, we have a linebacker pursuit problem that makes him dangerous. If Bowman is the only reliable backer, PSU is going to be pummeled by Beanie & Pryor, Pryor & Beanie, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Mauti showed promise, but he is a true freshman.
Pryor is an instinctive runner. It is that which this Turkey worries about, not his passing. Clearly, the latter is a deficiency, but if P&B can beat the Big D on the ground then there won’t be much need for him to pass. The big question is whether PSU can shut down P&B on the ground to force P to pass. I hope they can but I think there’s some chance that they cannot.
—TNT