Bucke Looking For Big Numbers
Fifth-ranked Ohio State wants to settle a score Saturday at No. 12 Penn State. The score the Buckeyes have in mind is 63-14.
That was their losing margin last year at Happy Valley - Ohio State’s worst defeat in 48 years.
It’s a game the Buckeyes haven’t forgotten. At their indoor practice field this week, the score is posted on a bulletin board.
“They’ll come here ready to play and try to give us a dose of what happened last year,” Penn State coach Joe Paterno said.
Last year, Penn State beat Ohio State and went on to complete a perfect season. The roles could be reversed this year.
The Buckeyes are 4-0 after last week’s emotional win over Notre Dame, and appear to have enough talent to make a run at their first national championship since 1968.
Quarterback Bobby Hoying is the Big Ten’s top passer, tailback Eddie George is No. 2 in rushing, and receiver Terry Glenn leads the league in scoring.
Penn State (3-1) is coming off a 17-9 loss to Wisconsin that ended the Nittany Lions’ 20-game winning streak. Although they’re playing at home Saturday, the Lions are a one-point underdog.
“Right now, we’re red meat for the conference,” Paterno said. “Everybody we play is saying, ‘Let’s get after them.”’
Red meat or not, Ohio State is the hungrier team… . OHIO ST. 31-28.
Saturday
Miami (plus 18) at No. 1 Florida St.: Seminoles kick Hurricanes while they’re down … FLORIDA ST. 44-10.
No. 3 Florida (minus 10) at No. 21 LSU: Gators have won seven straight over Tigers … FLORIDA 34-21.
No. 24 Kansas (plus 23) at No. 4 Colorado: Only reason Jayhawks are 4-0 is weak schedule … COLORADO 45-14.
No. 5 Southern Cal (minus 14) at California: Trojans beat Bears 61-0 last year … SOUTHERN CAL 34-7.
No. 25 Northwestern (plus 16) at No. 7 Michigan: Wolverines win defensive duel … MICHIGAN 17-10.
No. 8 Texas A&M (minus 8) at Texas Tech: Aggies rebound from loss to Colorado … TEXAS A&M 24-14.
No. 9 Virginia (minus 4) at North Carolina: 100th meeting in the series … VIRGINIA 27-17.
No. 10 Tennessee (minus 6) at No. 18 Arkansas: First meeting in Fayetteville … TENNESSEE 24-21.
Mississippi St. (plus 17) at No. 11 Auburn: Tigers are 14-0-1 at home under Terry Bowden … AUBURN 38-14.
Missouri (plus 21) at No. 13 Kansas St.: Wildcats have posted two straight shutouts … KANSAS ST. 34-10.
No. 14 Oklahoma (minus 19) at Iowa St.: Sooners have won 16 straight at Ames … OKLAHOMA 27-14.
No. 23 Notre Dame (minus 4) at No. 15 Washington: Huskies are 3-1, but unimpressive … NOTRE DAME 28-21.
North Carolina St. (plus 14) at No. 16 Alabama: Tide has won 19 straight nonconference games … ALABAMA 42-10.
Pacific (plus 31) at No. 17 Oregon: No contest … OREGON 48-10.
No.(18 Stanford (minus 3) at Arizona St.: Sun Devils hand Cardinal first defeat … ARIZONA 28-27.
Rice (plus 17) at No. 20 Texas: Owls upset Longhorns last year … TEXAS 44-17.
Last week: 12-4 (straight); 12-5 (spread). Season: 69-21 (straight); 44-40 (spread).