In general, this is one of the most talented and deepest teams that James Franklin has had in Happy Valley
For this week’s Stock Market Report, we are doing something a little bit different.
Since we have said all that needs to be said about the Nebraska game, we are doing the first-ever Stock Market Report preview.
It looks different, but basically, this is what the Buckeyes can take advantage of against Penn State, what Penn State does well, and also some stats about Penn State relevant to this game.
I will also toss my prediction into this. I think the Buckeyes will win 27-20, and Davidson Igbinosun will record a pick-six.
Let’s dive into it.
Blue Chip
Penn State’s pass rush
Abdul Carter, Zane Durant, and Dani Dennis-Sutton have combined for 19.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. They are all great run-stoppers and can all get to the quarterback.
Obviously, the main concern for the Buckeyes coming into this is the offensive line, and one of the best things that Penn State does is get to the quarterback, which is a bad formula.
Solid Investments
The PSU quarterback room
Drew Allar and Beau Pribula are both very capable quarterbacks, but they are two different players who will require two different game plans. Allar is dealing with an injury, and James Franklin will keep his cards close to his chest throughout the week, forcing the Ohio State defense to prepare for both guys.
Whether or not Allar or Pribula play, both guys are talented and will be a tough matchup for Jim Knowles and the defense.
Winning games
Penn State’s wins this year have not been overly impressive, but it is 7-0. If it beats Ohio State on Saturday, it will have a good chance to go 12-0 and head into the Big Ten Championship.
Winning is important, and even though it was only by seven against Bowling Green, 14 to Illinois, and three to USC, the Nittany Lions are still winning.
Junk Bond
James Franklin’s record vs Ohio State
It is no secret that Franklin has had his troubles with Ohio State. The head football coach for Penn State is 1-9 against Ohio State and has lost four of those games by one possession.
Penn State has missed every college football playoff since its inception, and the reason has been losses to Ohio State and Michigan. This is one of the best chances that the Nittany Lions have had in recent years, and it is important for Franklin to get the job done.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Noon kickoff
Don’t get me wrong, I like the vibe of Beaver Stadium at night and the white out and all of that. However, as a fan of the away team, this being a Big Noon Kickoff game is beneficial to the Buckeyes since the stadium likely won’t be full at kickoff, and they don’t have to deal with the full effects of Happy Valley.
Buy: Penn State’s running game
Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are among the top rushing duos in the country. Allen has run for 509 yards, and Singleton has rushed for 483 yards and has missed one game. This will be the biggest test the Buckeyes face on the ground all season.
Sell: Penn State’s outside weapons
Tyler Warren has 47 catches for 559 yards and four touchdowns, and the second closest to him in seven games is Harrison Wallace, who has 22 catches. Warren had 17 catches for 220 yards against USC. If the Buckeyes can slow down Warren, no one else has stepped up for Penn State to this point. Ohio State needs to continue that trend.