(in addition to the meteor) Should we root for Penn State or Ohio State?

Submitted by SpikeFan2016 on

This thread is about who is in our best interest to win this weekend in Columbus between Ohio State and Penn State, given that Michigan is now essentially eliminated from the Big Ten East race.

I know that there are some rational reasons to choose either team, but I want to lay out the strategic case as to why I'm rooting for Penn State to defeat Ohio State and Michigan State to lock up the East early (I would ultimately root for Wisconsin to defeat Penn State in Indianapolis). 

  1. I don't want Ohio State to be playing for any championships when they come to Ann Arbor. If Penn State defeats Ohio State, the Buckeyes will be eliminated from Playoff Contention. If Penn State then beats Michigan State one week later, the Buckeyes will essentially be eliminated from the East race (as we are now) and if PSU follows that up by defeating Rutgers and Nebraska (both at home in Happy Valley, 99.99999% chance) by the time OSU comes to Ann Arbor the division race will literally be over. This increases our chances for a home upset in my view, with the Buckeyes feeling letdown rather than knowing they're playing for a national/Big Ten championship. Will also decrease the amount of red in the stands. 
  2. I want one of these two teams eliminated from the playoff, and the only way that happens this week is with a PSU win. Seeing BOTH Ohio State and Penn State in the playoff would be a heinous nightmare. The only thing worse than seeing one of these two in the playoff is both of them (and with Notre Dame still lurking around...oh god). It's not a certainty, but say PSU loses in Columbus but it's competitive or close/fluky. If OSU wins out to finish 12-1 as Big Ten Champions, they're in. If PSU is sitting at 11-1 with a narrow, road loss to a playoff team, riding a 4 game win streak, they'd have a decent shot at the playoff, especially with implosions already happening in the Big 12 and PAC 12 (and maybe the ACC?). Another scenario: say OSU loses to Wisconsin in Indy, but Wisconsin loses to one of Michigan/Iowa/Minnesota beforehand; PSU could easily get in à la OSU 2016 because the Badgers have no margin for error given their schedule, even if they are Big Ten champs. 
  3. The more successful Penn State is in 2017, the more likely they suffer key departures in the offseason that bring them back down to earth in 2018 and beyond. Michigan wants Joe Moorhead (and potentially lower level assistants) to get poached to a job he cannot turn down. Michigan wants Barkely to leave early for the NFL, and possibly even McSorely. All of this becomes more likely if PSU doesn't head into the off season with hope that 2018 could be THE special year because 2017 fell just short. At this point, there are not equivalent key pieces on the Buckeye side in similar positions. 
  4. Ohio State is a far bigger recruiting threat than Penn State. 
  5. It's always more demoralizing for the home team to lose, and OSU Horseshoe losses are inherently delightful. 

 

 

Blueblood2991

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:16 PM ^

Idk the whole thing kinda makes me nauseous to think about. 

While I obviously hate OSU the most, I hate Dantonio and Franklin way more than Meyer. For lack of a better explanation, they have incredibly punchable faces. Yes recent events have added to that hate.

I can't possibly root for either of our rivals, and I can't root for Ped State so I probably just won't pay attention. Much healthier that way.

Get a Grip

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:36 PM ^

Penn State is the absolute scummiest program in the Big Ten. James Franklin is such an insecure, petty little man that he iced Georgia State's kicker while up 50-0 to preserve the shutout, and was trying to score on Michigan with 0 seconds on the clock. Their quarterback is a kid who felt the need to punt the ball after kneeling out the victory at Iowa. Their program is built on the back of lies, silence, and putting football above the systematic abuse of children while cultivating a holier-than-thou facade. They deserved to be kicked out of the Big Ten, and they don't deserve the privilege of fielding a football team.



I don't like Meyer because he's at Ohio State, and I don't like Dantonio because he's kind of a prick, but Franklin is everything that is wrong with sports. Penn State doing well is a slap in the face to the concept of karma, and their continued association with everyone in the Big Ten is a black mark athletically and academically on every institution in the Big Ten.



This year, On Wisconsin, their championship opponent be damned (unless it's us, of course, but it won't be).

Carcajou

October 22nd, 2017 at 11:52 PM ^

Yeah, I can't stand him/them either. But PSU will fall back down to mediocrity soon enough. Whether it happens this week, or in a year or two, it will happen.



Given their team history, support, recruiting base, etc. it is inevitable they will have a few good-great years per decade. I just hope when they do temporarily rise like they are now we still have a chance to beat them, and they can take a whack out of OSU and MSU occaisionally befpre they fall back down.

M-Dog

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^

Deep down inside Meyer respects Michigan.  He actually had an out in his Florida contract if the Michigan job came open.

Deep down inside, Franklin and Dantonio do not respect Michigan.

I have no problem rooting for Meyer if it is in our interest.

A 3 or 4 loss Michigan playing a 1 or 2 loss Ohio State while the rest of the nation is focused on the Penn State - Michigan State game is not in our interest.

 

BornSinner

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^

I want Michigan to end OSU’s championship dreams like we always did in the 90s. Too bad those days are far gone.

sharklover

October 22nd, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^

OSU is not an unbeatable juggernaut. Michigan matches up much more favorably against their team than we do against PSU. Assuming that Don Brown can put together some quality schemes and our offensive line doesn't completely crumple, there is no reason that we shouldn't have a chance to beat the buckeyes, especially in Ann Arbor.

Carcajou

October 22nd, 2017 at 11:42 PM ^

Let us hope so. PSU was especially unfavorable- a RB, QB, WR, and athletic TE who all created mismatches. With a defense that primarily gambles on pressure and man to man, PSU was especially difficult to defend,



OSU has a better running QB, but he's not a precision passer like McSorely. Their RBs are frightening, but not at the the level of Barkley, and not if you include him as a pass receiving threat.

oingoboingo

October 23rd, 2017 at 8:18 AM ^

"OSU is not an unbeatable juggernaut. Michigan matches up much more favorably against their team than we do against PSU."

Yes, to part one - they are beatable. I'm a little less sure on part two ... I think Ohio State has more playmakers than Penn State. Maybe they're not as dyanmic as Barkley (who is) and Hamilton, but the depth of playmakers on that team is something. 

If Don Brown wants to play C1 against Ohio State and their RPO focused offense it will be another lloooonnngggg day, although, they've shown a knack for maliciously destorying zone coverage over the past five weeks as well (yes, but the schedule). 

sharklover

October 23rd, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^

Let me clarify. OSU is deep as hell. They are a complete team. But I'm not as scared about their RBs blowing past our LBs on wheel routes. I'm also not as concerned about their WRs and TEs having big height advantages over our corners and safeties. I'm also less concerned about Barrett's ability to make throws that would exploit mismatches. On the running game, though.... Even if we can contain their passing game effectively on our base man coverage defense, which we should be able to do, Urban has consistently put together powerful read option attacks that make great defenses look silly. So yeah, OSU has the horses to beat us. I just don't think they can do it in the multi dimensional way that PSU did. OSU is easier to game plan for. But they are still super scary.

Chuck Norris

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^

I... don't know. There are pros and cons to rooting for both sides. I'm just going to enjoy the top 5 matchup and root for what should be a really really good game.

Pros to Ohio State winning (especially big):

- It puts Penn State back in their place.

- It sets up The Game as a potential spoiler game at home, just like most of the 90s.

Pros to Penn State winning (especially big):

-My OSU friends will melt down.

-OSU people won't be able to talk shit, since we're in the same boat.

Casanova

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:18 PM ^

PSU is a bigger recruiting threat.

OSU is recruiting death machine independent of Michigan.

A resurgent PSU could pose recruiting problems for us in the northeast.

Mocha Cub

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^

I can't ever root for Penn State, sorry. Not after what happened for decades at that piss-poor excuse for a university and community. OSU winning changes nothing from what's already been happening.

PopeLando

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^

I call this PopeLando's Rooting Interest Test:

Did the school in question have anything to do with rape or child rape on a massive, institutional scale?

PSU: yes
OSU: no

Ohio State gets my support in this game (sorry)

pinkfloyd2000

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^

After an OSU bye week? After PSU already had to get up big time once for Michigan -- and now they are being asked to do it again next weekend? After what happened last year in Happy Valley?

We ALL know damn well how this is going to go.

Prepare, my friends, for a playoff with possibly *both* Ohio State and Notre Dame included.

 

 

 

 

blueak

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^

I'll be pulling for Ohio State. Don't care if anybody on Penn State's team was around for the Sandusky tragedy, this university, as an institution, turned a blind eye to that child abuser. That can never be forgiven. I want them to fail in every way possible for eternity.

Wolverdirt

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^

it's about rooting less against.  This way of thinking makes things only slightly more palatable. So I guess I'm hoping OSU plays slightly less shitty than PSU given the pedophile algorithm as outlined earlier.

The Mad Hatter

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:38 PM ^

And I want OSU to win. PSU needs to be knocked down a few notches, and we haven't played OSU yet.

Best case scenario as far as I see it? OSU, MSU, and PSU all beat each other up. We beat OSU.

Wisconsin as Big 10 Champs. Again.

I can live with that.