We made it, the second bye week of the year and there were no casualties. From this point forward, instead of being bored watching all the other teams have fun, we get to see our beloved Nittany Lions play week in and week out. Keeping up with some other scores this past weekend, two in particular: Ohio State vs Iowa and Northwestern Minnesota, it made me question, just how good is OSU?
As they should have, that team from Ohio, steamrolled through their non conference schedule. OSU averaged 52.5 points per game to an opponents average of just 15.25. However, this does not say much as their non conference opponents have an unimpressive losing record of 11-15.
Enter Big Ten play, and if you ask me, Ohio State has not been impressive. Yes, they are the team to beat, and everyone is gunning for them. Yes, they had two of the best Big Ten teams in back to back weeks. However, a team that has National Championship hopes needs to make it through these tests, and to this point, they have. However, after watching their game against Iowa this past weekend, it made me wonder, is next week the week the giant falls?
Wisconsin, in many people's opinions, is the second best team in the Big Ten this season. Only losing to OSU by one touchdown, they had given the Buckeyes their first test of the season. Wisconsin had the chance to drive down field with 1:29 left on the clock, to tie the game up, but failed to even secure a first down on their drive. Would this of been a different story had the game been in Wisconsin? As we all witnessed, in a scenario such as this, we know the difference home field advantage plays. OSU has a very favorable home schedule this season, which in these close games, is a difference maker.
The Northwestern game was a battle, and much closer than the score indicates. Ohio State escaped this game in the final minutes of play. Braxton Miller ran into some problems throwing an interception and fumbling twice. Northwestern gave the Buckeyes there best game of the season thus far, however how good is Northwestern, losing this past weekend to Minnesota? Does this prove that in the Big Ten, that from week to week, anyone can win? If NW almost took down OSU, how good is OSU, really? According to logic, this should have been an easy win for The Buckeyes, but it was not. Besides Wisconsin, what REALLY good team has OSU proved itself against?
Finally, Iowa, the game which brought these thoughts to my mind and my inspiration for writing this article. Tied, heading into the 4th quarter, against a team that is 4-3, Ohio State needed some big plays in the fourth quarter to take down this opponent. A game which once again OSU was expected to come out of with no problem, was almost the first blemish for Urbran in his time at OSU.
Is the Buckeye's fourth quarter luck running out? Is the tough Big Ten schedule going to finally take it's toll on this team on October 26th? At some point it has to, and I think this is a great opportunity for the Nittany Lions to take it to a team that has been through a lot the past few weeks. OSU has to be running out of gas, and Penn State coming off of a bye week with a lot of momentum from the Michigan game is in the driver's seat to take down the giant. If this is another close game going into the fourth quarter for OSU; I foresee a different outcome than they've seen the past two years. Every week, O'Brien stresses that Hackenberg experiences something new. This week, it will be the sweet smell of victory, knocking off a top 5 opponent in their house.
WE ARE.......
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