Penn State vs Ohio State: Bold predictions for Nittany Lions and Buckeyes

In one of three top-25 matchups in Week 9, Big Ten powers will do battle Saturday, and here are bold predictions for Penn State vs Ohio State. 

One of the most interesting games of College Football Week 9 is Penn State vs Ohio State. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 in the AP poll while Penn State football is No. 13.

The Nittany Lions were dominated by Michigan recently and if they are going to have any chance of making this season a memorable one, they need to win this weekend.

Penn State lost to Michigan by a wide margin in 2016, then turned around and upset the Buckeyes so you never know what can happen.

Looking ahead to Penn State vs Ohio State  — one of the best games every year on the Big Ten schedule — here are bold predictions and our prediction against the spread.

Penn State’s defense will hold C.J. Stroud in check, somewhat

C.J. Stroud is one of the best quarterbacks in college football and he also has a wealth of resources at the wide receiver position. That should include Jaxon Smith-Njigba this weekend as Ryan Day indicated he was expected to play against Penn State.

The numbers are going to be there, especially in terms of yards. Where Penn State can hang around is by not allowing touchdowns. It sort of worked against Michigan, at least for the first half.

Penn State has also allowed just six touchdown passes all season long, so I’m going to say the Nittany Lions limit Stroud to around 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Penn State will find running room

The formula for Penn State winning this game is more Nicholas Singleton than Sean Clifford for the Penn State offense. Clifford has actually been pretty solid this season. The offensive line didn’t hold up against Ohio State, but we don’t really know if Ohio State’s defense is that good.

All the numbers point to an elite defense but Penn State might be the biggest challenge faced by the Ohio State defense which is crazy because it’s not an elite offense.

Nicholas Singleton and Kayton Allen are both averaging over five yards per carry. The Ohio State defense is only allowing 2.9 yards per carry, but I expect Clifford to be involved in the run game too and the best way for the Nittany Lions to hang around is to burn the clock and possess the ball.

The red zone defense will also be key.

Ohio State pass defense will pick off Sean Clifford at least once

The Buckeyes have averaged one interception per game so far this season. Sean Clifford has only thrown three interceptions this season, about one every two games, so what gives?

Clifford has gotten better at taking care of the ball, but he gives teams 1-2 chances per game to get their hands on the ball. Michigan dropped a couple of interception opportunities. Ohio State wil catch at least one and it will be costly for Penn State.

Penn State will cover the spread

According to Fan Duel, the Nittany Lions are a 14.5-point underdog. That tells you how much the oddsmakers respect Ohio State and they should. The Buckeyes are legit. The defense is better than most people give it credit for.

It just hasn’t gotten much chance to prove it. Iowa, Notre Dame, Rutgers — these aren’t going to be confused with elite college football offenses. Michigan State either this year.

But Penn State is scoring 33 points a game and averaging 423 yards of total offense. I do think Penn State will be able to run the ball against the Buckeyes and that the defense will get some stops in the red zone.

That will keep the game close, but the Buckeyes will also rush for 200 yards, put up over 500 total, and will win the game. But a couple of field goals will make it say 34-20 Buckeyes.