Preview: No. 3 Penn State at No. 9 Ohio State

Kickoff: Sat., Oct. 25. 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
Weather Forecast: Cool, showers.

Host: Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 7-1 (4-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Won at Michigan St., 45-7
Injuries: RB Dan Herron (head - probable), CB Chimdi Chekwa (shoulder - probable), OT J.B. Shugarts (shoulder - out), DE Lawrence Wilson (knee - out), WR Dane Sanzenbacher (head - no report), OL Mike Adams (ankle - out), CB Andre Amos (knee - out)
Key Players: (offense) RB Chris Wells, QB Terrelle Pryor; (defense) LB James Laurinaitis, DB Malcolm Jenkins
Head Coach: Jim Tressel, 8th season at Ohio St., 80-17; 22nd year overall, 215-74-2
Season Statistics:
Offense - 130.7 rush/140.1 pass/26.9 points per game
Defense - 97.1 rush/168.2 pass/13.4 points per game
TO Margin - (+12)

Why Ohio State will win -- The Shoe hasn't been kind to Penn State. Well, really it hasn't been kind to many teams at all. Ohio State will host the biggest game of the Big Ten season, it's at night, and could be considered the Big Ten championship game. Jim Tressel's reputation as a "big game coach" has taken a hit recently, but don't expect for one minute that he won't use the atmosphere and the rabid fan base to his team's benefit. I don't think these Buckeyes will come out flat in their own house. Chris "Beanie" Wells is back, and is ready to carry this team to a win over Penn State. The Nittany Lions had tons of trouble in the first half with Michigan's zone-read option, and Steven Threet is no Terrelle Pryor and Brandon Minor is no Chris Wells. Ohio State can spread the Penn State front with misdirection, keeping the Lions' offense off the field.

Visitor: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 8-0 (4-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs. Michigan, 46-17
Injuries: S Anthony Scirrotto (head - probable), DE Devon Still (ankle - out), S Nick Sukay (foot - out), LB Sean Lee (knee - out), C Doug Klopacz (knee - out), DE Jerome Hayes (knee - out)
Key Players: (offense) QB Daryll Clark, RB Evan Royster;(defense) DT Jared Odrick, LB Navorro Bowman
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 380-125-3
Season Statistics:
Offense - 234.6 rush/247.5 pass/45.4 points per game
Defense - 103.9 rush/159.4 pass/11.8 points per game
TO Margin - (+7)

Why PSU will win -- Penn State got its wake up call last week against Michigan. I've been saying all week that the best thing to happen to Penn State before this Ohio State game, is Michigan smacking the Nittany Lions right in the mouth. If there's one thing Penn State can do well, it's adjust to its opponents game plans. Had Ohio State gone up 17-7 over Penn State, it would have gotten ugly in a big hurry. But by playing Michigan, Penn State was given the chance to adjust on defense and offense. Ohio State won't sneak up on Penn State this week. Terrelle Pryor hasn't had to lead his team in a comeback against a good team yet. You could say the same thing about Daryll Clark, but Pryor doesn't have the surrounding cast Clark does. Penn State's defensive front should be able to put pressure on Pryor, while preventing him from taking off. Should this game boil down to a quarterback battle, I'd take Clark in a heartbeat.

What will happen -- Penn State has never brought a team this good to Columbus, while Ohio State brings a very unimpressive resume. Games aren't played on paper, and neither team will let the odds makers or the pundits convince them of anything prematurely. I fully expect each team to battle from the first whistle to the final gun. Ohio State has a fine defense, on the same level as Penn State, but I don't think they will be able to keep the Lions down for too long. It will be up to the Ohio State offense to win this game, and I don't think they can do it. I'm not going to guess which one, but I wouldn't doubt if Penn State or Ohio State led the other team by only one score at the half. The last time Penn State went to Columbus, in the rain, Ohio State was down 3-0 at halftime. It took the eventual Heisman winner, Troy Smith, to make the play of the season to spark Ohio State to the win. Of course, Anthony Morelli's two pick-six's had something to do with the 28-6 final score. Lucky for Penn State, Daryll Clark is definitely NOT Morelli.

Prediction: No. 3 Penn State, 30 - No. 9 Ohio State, 24