BILL O’BRIEN: Has Penn State on right track. (
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The shaping of the future of the Big Ten could hinge a lot on what happens Saturday in Happy Valley.
Ohio State plays at Penn State in a game loaded with subplots.
The Buckeyes (8-0 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) and Nittany Lions (5-2, 3-0) sit atop the Leaders Division, but neither is eligible for the league title. Ohio State is banned because of TattooGate.
Penn State, of course, is just entering the period of draconian penalties imposed by the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse nightmare.
One of the most crippling aspects of the NCAA penalties, which were imposed in July, was the rule that allowed Penn State players to transfer immediately without having to sit out a season.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he would not recruit Penn State players. But shortly after the sanctions were handed down, one of the Nittany Lions top recruits, defensive end Noah Spence, de-committed from Penn State and signed with the Buckeyes.
Bill O’Brien, of course, is in his first season as coach — the first man not named Paterno to move into the corner office of Penn State’s Lasch Football Building. He already has put his stamp on this program by implementing an NFL-like offense that has been so successful, quarterback Matt McGloin, a former walk-on, leads the Big Ten in passing yards.
Meyer is in his first season in Columbus. After leading Florida to two BCS National Championships, he returned home to Ohio, where Buckeyes fans are expecting their native son to win more titles.
Several Big Ten coaches questioned Meyer’s aggressive (and successful) recruiting tactics. O’Brien was not one of them. He had more than enough of his own problems to deal with.
Make no mistake, there is bad blood now on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The game is a pick ’em. The Nittany Lions haven’t had a sellout in Beaver Stadium this season. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller (neck) is expected to play.
O’Brien will not use any of the recruiting issues to motivate his team. But his players know. We’ll take Penn State to win a game that will be the closest to a bowl game either team will see this season.
WAKE FOREST (+12) over Clemson — Dabo Swinney’s Tigers generally play one clunker per season. Five days after a smackdown win over Virginia Tech, this is it.
Cincinnati (+3 1/2) over LOUISVILLE — Bearcats got caught looking in loss to Toledo. Plus, a Cincy win is the worst thing that could happen to the Big East. Karma pick.
S. CAROLINA (-14) over Tennessee — Steve Spurrier over Derek Dooley.
Florida (-6 1/2) over Georgia in Jacksonville — Dawgs might be the most unimpressive 6-1 team in America. Gators have been tested tough.
KANSAS ST. (-7) over Texas Tech — It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a team play with the efficiency of K-State; every player maxes out.
Usc (-6 1/2) over ARIZONA — RichRod is off to a great start, but the Trojans have regained their swag. They also have our Heisman Trophy leading candidate in Marqise Lee and our favorite all-around player in Robert Wood.
FLORIDA ST. (-27 1/2) over Duke — Blue Devils (6-2) are in first place in the Coastal Division. But the two losses have been to Stanford by 37 and Va. Tech by 21. Talent takes over.
RUTGERS (-13 1/2) over Kent St. — Scarlet Fright — this might be the best Rutgers team ever.
WISCONSIN (-6 1/2) over Michigan St. — Badgers are starting to come. Spartans are starting to come undone. Add in letdown effect after Michigan loss.
Syracuse (+2 1/2) over S. FLORIDA — Skip Holtz was the leader in the clubhouse to get the Syracuse job until saner heads prevailed and it went to Doug Marrone. Marrone has the Orange on the rise. Bulls have flatlined under Holtz.
OKLAHOMA (-11) over Notre Dame — Sooner or later the Irish’s inability to make big plays on offense is going to cost them. Here it is. The Irish’s elite defense will keep them in it but will wear down.
NEBRASKA (-2 1/2) over Michigan — Gosh we hate picking Bo Pelini, but Michigan is so uninspiring. How could there not be another quarterback in the program so Denard Robinson could play in space?
Mississippi State (+24) over ALABAMA — Oh no, first we go with Pelini, now we go against Nick Saban, breaking two of our tried and true rules. Dan Mullen has built a blue-collar SEC power. Bulldogs will lose. but not without a fight.
WASHINGTON (+4 1/2) over Oregon St.— This became the hardest pick of the week when quarterback Sean Mannion, out the last two weeks, was cleared to play. Huskies are in a free-fall since upsetting Stanford, but we still think the Beavers get caught looking ahead to ASU next week.
Best bets: South Carolina, FSU, Nebraska
Last week: 10-5, 65-54-1
Best bets: 2-1, 11-13.