While, I agree OSU is going to have difficulty running the table, take away Tebow from Florida, Stafford from UGA, Daniel from Mizzou, Bradford from OU and that is the equivalent of what OSU lost in Beanie.
Say what you will about OSU, but Beanie is easily one of the top 5 players in CFB and pollsters will view them differently with TP and a healthy Beanie the rest of the way.
Say what you will about OSU, but Beanie is easily one of the top 5 players in CFB and pollsters will view them differently with TP and a healthy Beanie the rest of the way.
PSU should win at OSU. Similar to 2005, their defense is very good and should be able to keep the game close enough for the big play makers to make a play. PSU has more team speed by far, and as long as Clarke continues to play as well as he has played they should win that game. I think their toughest test will be at Wisconsin.
Illinois is a tough match up for OSU as well. As long as PSU doesn't turn the ball over in it's game against OSU and Wisconsin they should win both games. That's a big if though. It's an amazingly hard four game stretch their about to be on so we'll see.
Don't forget that the best Defensive Lineman in the Big Ten - and one of the best in the country - Maurice Evans has yet to step foot onto the field this year. Once PSU gets Evans back their defense will become that much stronger. They already have the best secondary in the Big Ten, and one of the best in the nation, and once they get Evans back they will have one of the best lines in America as well.
The season comes down to how well Darryl Clarke and Derrick Williams play in the big games. The running backs will be consistent and PSU's offensive line is dynamite. If Clarke and D-Will step up in the big games they should be OK. If not they will struggle to win at Wisconsin and OSU.
I want to see how their defense plays this week against a spread offense. It'll tell us a lot about how they'll handle Pryor. Lets not forget that PSU now runs the spread offense and OSU has struggled against that in the past.
I think it is very possible that OSU runs the table. PSU, @Wis, @Ill, Mich - they are still the best team in the Big 10, IMO. With a healthy Wells and with Pryor getting most of the looks at QB, they are the team to beat.
Having said that, I highly doubt they reach the title game. USC would have to lose again and everybody else would have to lose twice.
Having said that, I highly doubt they reach the title game. USC would have to lose again and everybody else would have to lose twice.
How are they the best team in the Big Ten? Not trying to attack you, I would just like to hear your reasoning.
PSU has a better defense than OSU; especially when Evans comes back. Beanie is better than Royster but PSU's group of RB's is comparable to Beanie. Darryl Clark is the best QB in the conference and PSU has a better group of receivers.
PSU is the team to beat in the conference IMO. OSU hasn't looked impressive at all this season. They've looked average against bad teams, and the one good team they did play destroyed them.
IMO OSU is the third best team in the conference. Pryor is inexperienced and will have his bumps in the road. PSU is the fastest team in the conference and OSU has struggled against good team speed.
PSU would have beaten OSU last year if they had a QB.
I am kind of a PSU fan but come on, they beat the 115 and 96th rank defenses in the country and a non Division 1 team. Yes I know they beat ore.st but so did Stanford. You PSU fans are getting way ahead of yourselves.hno:
How? They've destroyed everyone they've played. OSU has played shitty opponents outside of USC and they haven't dominated the games. PSU has done what they had to do. Clarke has looked very good and their defense has looked very good. I guess we'll see, but they've been the class of the conference.
Yesterday proved that it's not easy to win every week, and it's really tough to dominate every week.
I'm not at all buying into Penn St. They look like the same team they've had the last few years to me - good but not great. It's going to take more than one win against a cross country traveling, average Ore St to convince me otherwise. Ohio St will definitely be favored when they play, and rightfully so. Buckeyes have basically the same team that trampled Penn St in Happy Valley a year ago.
But alas, that's why they play the games.
But alas, that's why they play the games.
