[Tommy]

Number one ranked Ohio State hosts Penn State on Saturday. The Buckeyes were administered a physical beating by the Nittany Lions a season ago at Beaver Stadium. The stats of the game did not tell the true story.

Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith had not yet found his rhythm and was pressured incessantly by the hungry Lions. That turns out to be the last game Ohio State has lost since. Joe Paterno brings his team into a place where they have had absolutely no success. This is one of those quirky series where the home team dominates as the Nittany Lions are 0-6 SU and ATS at Columbus. Ohio State is currently 4th in the country at 9.8 yards per pass attempt and 7th in yards per play. Penn State is 32nd in total defense and can be exposed, as Notre Dame proved. There is hope for the visitors to stay in this game as they rush for 6.3 YPC and in the two games when Ohio State played teams with the ability to run the ball effectively, they allowed 161.5 yards a game, at 5 YPC. Still, it should be noted the Buckeyes are 13-3 ATS versus excellent rushing teams, averaging less than 5.25 rushing yards a carry. The home team has been a 10 or more point favorite four times in the last 12 years and won by an average of 30 points. Do the math.

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