BWI Staff Picks’Em

Is this the dreaded ‘trap game’ that some Penn State fans are worried it might be? The BWI staff discusses the Nittany Lions’ chances to improve to 8-1 with a win tomorrow afternoon.

Which team will end up as the victor? Our BWI staff decides, right here!

Sean Fitz
Blue White Illustrated Recruiting Analyst
2009 Record - 7-1

For those expecting a trap game, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Where the Wildcats are good, the Nittany Lions are better. Where the Nittany Lions are good, the Wildcats need some work.

In Big Ten play, Northwestern is giving up 27 points per game, and they are giving up over 350 yards per contest. That should play right into the Nittany Lions’ hands, as Daryll Clark and the Penn State offensive are running full-bore right now.

Should Evan Royster get going early, the Nittany Lions could end up rolling at Ryan Field.

But if they get up early, the Nittany Lions need to keep their collective feet on the gas. Northwestern fell behind 28-3 last week, but ended up on top of Indiana, 29-28. While the Hoosiers don’t pose nearly the threat that the Lions do, resilient quarterback Mike Kafka can do some things to test the Penn State secondary.

The last time Penn State visited Evanston, it came away with a 34-29 win. This time, it shouldn’t be that close.

Prediction: Penn State - 42
Northwestern - 7

Nate Bauer
Blue White Illustrated Web Editor
2009 Record - 8-1

This is a tough one.

After coming out and completely laying an egg against Iowa earlier this season - a team that I still think Penn State is clearly better than - I’m throwing away my theory that big games at Beaver Stadium are worth a seven point spot before the game even starts.

From what I’ve seen of Ohio State this season, I think Penn State is the better team. The Buckeyes have a seriously formidable defense, but I just haven’t been impressed at all with what they’ve been able to do on the offensive side of the ball.

I’ve made this contention all season for other opponents, and I’ll say it again: if you have a national ranking in the 90s for any category after the midpoint of the season, it’s not an abberation.

As the No. 94 passing offense in the country, it’s clear that Pryor and the Buckeyes have struggled to throw the ball consistently.

That said, they haven’t really needed to be able to most of the time. It’s nothing new to see Ohio State run a ball-control, run-oriented offense, but I just think against top competition, one-dimensionality on offense can be backbreaking.

With as good as Penn State’s defense has been this season, I don’t think the Buckeyes will be able to run it down the Lions’ throats without establishing some success through the air. If the Buckeyes can establish a passing game and keep Penn State’s defense off-balance, I think the Buckeyes’ chances improve dramatically.

On the other side of the ball, I really don’t have a feel or expectation for what Penn State’s offense is going to be able to do against Ohio State. I think Clark is a very, very good quarterback, his wideouts are playing well, his offensive line and running backs are playing well, and the whole operation is moving in sync.

Can they continue to have success against the best defense they’ll face this season? Honestly, I have no idea.

What I do know is that these two teams, when seemingly evenly matched, have a recent history of defensively-dominated battles. It’s really almost silly to take into account all of the tendencies that each team has had throughout the season when this game comes up on the schedule.

My bet is that this is a close game going into the fourth quarter, probably fairly low-scoring at that point, any turnovers will be turning points in the game, special teams will be all about field position, and one team will take a late lead and hang on for the win.

In this case, this season, I’m going to go with Penn State with a 24-13 win.

Prediction: Penn State 24, Ohio State 13