Ohio State @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2013 ) Penn State 14, Ohio State 63

To say that Ohio State enters this Saturday’s game at Penn State with all the momentum would be a giant understatement. The 12th-ranked Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 224-69 during their four-game win streak while setting a team record with four consecutive games of 50 or more points. Freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett has bounced back from a Week 2 loss to Virginia Tech with 1,170 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and one interception over the past four games.

While the surging Buckeyes have put themselves back in position to compete for a playoff berth, Penn State is hoping last week’s bye signals a rebirth for its beleaguered offense. The Nittany Lions, who lost back-to-back games to Northwestern and Michigan following a 4-0 start, have allowed 20 quarterback sacks and rank 13th in the conference in scoring at 21.2 points per game. Penn State boasts the nation's top run defense (60.8 yards per game), but the Nittany Lions’ secondary should be tested by the Buckeyes’ deep receiving corps.

TV: 8 ET, ABC. LINE: Ohio State -14.

ABOUT NO. 12 OHIO STATE (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten): Barrett has been responsible for at least four touchdowns in each of the last four games, including 368 total yards and five scores in last Saturday’s 56-17 dismantling of Rutgers. Joey Bosa had two sacks against the Scarlet Knights to lead the defense, which has recorded 12 sacks, 23 tackles for loss and eight interceptions during the Buckeyes’ four-game winning streak. “(Bosa) has the ability to beat you with speed, beat you with power and also stop the run,” coach Urban Meyer told reporters. “He’s got it all as far as a defensive lineman.”

ABOUT PENN STATE (4-2, 1-2): The Nittany Lions have lost two in a row against the Buckeyes, who rolled to a 63-14 victory last season. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg leads the Big Ten in passing (272.8), but the offense has scored just two touchdowns through its first three conference games and the Nittany Lions still don’t have a 100-yard rusher this season. With Penn State’s offense unlikely to keep pace with the Buckeyes, the Big Ten’s stingiest defense (15.2 points per game) will need another stellar effort from middle linebacker Mike Hull (team-high 64 tackles) and tackle Anthony Zettel.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ohio State has won 18 consecutive Big Ten regular-season games.

2. Penn State has lost its last three games coming off a bye week.

3. The Buckeyes have tied a program record with at least 500 yards of total offense in each of the last four games.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 38, Penn State 17