CFB - Ohio State at Penn State (8:00E ABC)

Ohio State’s first defense of the #1 ranking got a little too close for comfort for HC Jim Tressel

2007-10-29

Ohio State’s first defense of the #1 ranking got a little too close for comfort for HC Jim Tressel, but the Buckeyes were able to dispose of Michigan State 24-17 and hang on to the top spot in all the key polls. This week they’ll face their biggest test to date when they travel to Beaver Stadium to take on Penn State.

The Nittany Lions were winners at Indiana but have played at a different and much better level at home. With two easy wins already in ’07, Joe Pa’s club is on an 8-3 ATS run at home in Big Ten play. Making matters worse for #1, the hosts have covered the spread in the L9 of this series.

Ohio State doesn’t have many stumbling blocks ahead; however this is one capable of deriding the Buckeyes. This Big Ten beauty will be played in “white out” conditions, as the Penn State crowd the last few years has worn all white. Jim Tressel has put together what is widely thought of his classic team. Stifling, suffocating defense matched with superior special teams and an offense that improves as the season moves along. As acclaimed as last year’s squad was, this Ohio State bunch might be better.

Quarterback Anthony Morelli has played like all Big Ten QB at home and doormat on the road. Whatever the reasons for this, Morelli has touchdown makers on the perimeter in Derrick Williams and Deon Butler. The running game has missed a quick strike artist. The defense is ferocious led by Dan Conner and is second in the nation is sacks. They will be in Buckeyes backfield and cornerback Justin King will be ready to grab any errant throws.

Key Trend – The home team has covered 9 in a row.

It would figure the Nittany Lions would be a smallish underdog, which would produce a Fred Flintstone “Yuppa Duppa Do” for bettors who have seen Jo Pa’s team cover three times, with two outright upsets in this exact situation. Prediction – Ohio State by 7

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