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KEY MATCHuPS P E N N S TAT E V S . O H I O S TAT E | B Y E R I C T H O M A S W H E N P E N N S T A T E H A S T H E B A L L OHIO STATE RUN DEFENSE PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. OHIO STATE PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. PASS DEFENSE PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 149.3 YPG, 3.7 YPC OHIO STATE RUN DEFENSE 121.6 YPG, 3.9 YPC THE LOWDOWN Ohio State no doubt paid close attention to Bill Belton's performance against Iowa last weekend. Penn State will need to balance out its offense, and that means Belton, Zach Zwinak and Michael Zordich will be used to gain yards on the ground and keep the clock running. The Nittany Lions also need to neutralize defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and nose guard Garrett Goebel. Don't be surprised if Bill O'Brien uses Belton in a variety of ways to get him touches and keep the Ohio State defense out of the backfield. EDGEEven PENN STATE PASSING GAME 257.1 YPG, 11.0 YPC OHIO STATE PASS DEFENSE 271.8 YPG, 11.1 YPC THE LOWDOWN Here's Matt McGloin's chance to show just how far he's come in the past nine months. He got off to a hot start in both of his previous games against the Buckeyes, but he couldn't sustain his momentum in 2010, and last year Penn State used the Wildcat to shock the Buckeyes. This year he'll need Allen Robinson and Kyle Carter to help out, so who steps up? The Buckeyes' secondary has given up a lot of yards, but only 11 touchdown passes. It has been extremely opportunistic, too, snatching 11 interceptions. EDGE Penn State W H E N O H I O S T A T E H A S T H E B A L L OHIO STATE RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE OHIO STATE PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE OHIO STATE RUNNING GAME 249.6 YPG, 5.6 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 113.0 YPG, 3.4 YPC THE LOWDOWN How healthy is Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller? If he is 100 percent, then Penn State may have problems. Miller leads the Buckeyes in rushing and is closing in on 1,000 yards. But he appeared to be badly shaken after being slammed to the turf against Purdue, and he's getting set to face one of the fiercest defenses in the Big Ten. Jordan Hill can absolutely manhandle people at the line of scrimmage, and Michael Mauti is, without question, one of the best defensive players in the country. Something has to give. EDGE Even OHIO STATE PASSING GAME 189.0 YPG, 12.9 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 209.7 YPG, 10.0 YPC THE LOWDOWNHere, too, Miller's health is the big variable. Backup Kenny Guiton spearheaded Ohio State's comeback from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit against Purdue, but he doesn't have Miller's arm. Nor is he as effective as Miller at running Urban Meyer's offense. Miller is listed as the starter, and if he goes the distance, Penn State might have to sit back in bend-but-don't-break mode. But if the Buckeyes are forced to call on Guiton, Ted Roof's defense will be able to take more chances. Either way, Devin Smith will be a problem for Penn State's secondary. EDGEEven O T H E R M A T C H U P S SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWNWhen Penn State won at the Horseshoe in 2008, punting was a huge factor in the game. Does Alex Butterworth have that type of performance in him? Rod Smith and Devin Smith can light it up in the return game for the Buckeyes and kicker Drew Basil is as close to automatic as it gets. The Buckeyes have a clear advantage here. EDGEOhio State THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN For all intents and purposes, this is Penn State's bowl game, and maybe Ohio State's, too. The crowd should top 100,000, and it will be looking to help the Nittany Lions re-emerge onto the na- tional stage. This could be 2005 all over again. Then again, the Buckeyes are eager to make a state- ment of their own, and they've got the talent to do so. EDGEEven COACHING STAFF THE LOWDOWN Some PSU fans will always wonder "what if" when it comes to Meyer. He was rumored to be in the running for the Penn State job before the events of last November. But do you think the Lions would trade the guy they have coaching them right now? No way. O'Brien might have a trick or three up his sleeve, and Penn State has nothing to lose and everything to gain on Saturday. EDGEEven O C T O B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 2 3 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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