What is Different After Beating OSU?

Right now, very little. Penn State remains third in both the AP and Coach's polls as well as the BCS standings. However, PSU is now receiving some first place votes in Coach's Poll while Alabama gets no first place votes. Odd.

Regardless, Penn State has cemented its strangle hold on third place and now seems to be pressing Alabama for second place. The Lions trail Alabama by only 25 votes in the coaches and 29 votes in the AP polls which leaves the Lions in good position to hop into the championship game (provided, of course, one of those teams lose and PSU wins out).

Just as a heads up, Texas still has to play:

@ Texas Tech
Baylor
@ Kansas
Texas A&M

There is also the Big Twelve championship game should they survive this run through the regular season.

Alabama still has to play:

Arkansas State
@ LSU
Mississippi State
Auburn

As well as a possible SEC championship game.

At this point it looks more likely that Texas will lose a game before Alabama does. Which means PSU vs. Alabama for the title looks pretty good.

Should both teams lose a game, it will probably be PSU vs. Texas. This is because Texas will still have played in and presumably won the Big 12 Title. This is because the hold the tie-breaker with Oklahoma. I don't see OU getting a shot at the title without being able to win their own league.

This is where we stand. Enjoy the bye week.

GO STATE! ENJOY THE BYE WEEK!

PSU's Weekend By The Numbers

9
39
174
3

Nine is for the end of the losing streak Penn State has been on against Michigan over the last decade or so. This win feels really good. The Lions are now free to focus in on the Buckeyes for next week's game.

Thirty nine is for the number of unanswered points PSU put up on Michigan starting in the second quarter of Saturday's game. Michigan played well early, however, the early lead was because of costly turnovers. Despite an early deficit, the Lions continue to be incredibly cool and poised. The team stuck to the game plan and just ran their offense. The team clearly has faith in not only the offense but also the entire team. And now, so do I.

174 is for the number of rushing yards Royster piled up this week. Royster is proving himself to be an all purpose back. He can catch the ball, he can rush the ball, he can run inbetween the tackles and is dangerous in space. #22 has nearly 900 yards on the year, is on pace for over 1300 yards, and 15 rushing TDs. More impressive still is the fact that Evan hasn't been playing deep into games. He is a beast.

Three is for the Lions current ranking according to the BCS computers. A bad rating in strength of schedule was not enough to knock the Lions out of third place in the race for a national title. Next week's trip to Columbus is easily the most important game Penn State will play this year.

GO STATE! BEAT THE BUCKEYES! (I've been waiting a year to say that)

Coaches Poll Is Out!

USA Today released the 2008 preseason coaches poll and PSU is on there! WOOOOO!

The Lions are sitting at #22 directly behind the Bulls of South Florida and just ahead of Michigan who clocks in at #24. This really brings us to how the Big Ten faired in the polls.

The Big Ten has five teams in the top twenty five; Ohio State (3), Wisconsin (12), Illinois (19), PSU (22), and Michigan (24). Not bad, I agree with the teams on the list but not necessarily the order. I would put PSU, Wisconsin, and Illinois much closer together. I don't see Wisconsin being 10 spots better than PSU this year. Also, how did the Illinis get better this year? They didn't. So I'd go Ohio State (3), PSU (15), Illinois (16), Wisconsin (17).

Also, by my count, the SEC has five teams in the top 25 just like the Big Ten. Albeit, the SEC teams are generally ranked more highly. The average rank of the SEC teams is 8.2 compared to the Big 10s of 16. No, I don't think it is that big a difference. No, I'm not a moron. YOU ARE!

The Pac 10 brings a measly 3 teams to the top 25.

The Big 12 has five ranked teams also (avg. Rank of 9.6)

ACC has 3 teams ranked.

Big East has 2 two teams ranked.

As such, it seems clear that the coaches think the SEC and Big 12 are the cream of college football this year and that the Big 10 is good but not a great conference. We then have the rest of the lower conferences (PAC-10, ACC, Big East, etc.)

GO STATE! MOVE UP THOSE POLLS!

NCAA 09 Rankings and The Nittany Lion's Future!

I am a sucker for the NCAA football franchise. I love it not only for the game play but they also have their take on how good each team will be. The rankings are out....but first an awesome screen shot from NCAA 09!
NCAA 09 ranks the lions as an overall 91 (88 in offense and a 94 in Defense). Not too shabby. PSU was an overall B+ in '08 and I guess the Lions have upgraded to an A- (91 = A-?). But now, how do PSU's opponents stack up?

Coastal Carolina..................NOT RANKED!
Oregon State...........................77 Overall (80 off., 75 Def.)
Syracuse...........................72 Overall (73 Off., 80 Def.)
Temple.............................69 Overall (73 Off., 78 Def.)
Illinois..............................81 Overall (81 Off., 85 Def.)
Purdue.............................84 Overall (86 Off., 82 Def.)
Wisconsin.........................89 Overall (92 Off., 89 Def.)
Michigan..........................84 Overall (81 Off., 89 Def.)
Ohio State............99 Overall (99 Off., 99 Def. UGA is the only other 99 Overall in the game)
Iowa ...............................74 Overall (79 Off., 73 Def.)
Indiana............................79 Overall (81 Off., 82 Def.)
Michigan State.......................79 Overall (83 Off., 78 Def.)

If you go strictly by the numbers and always assume that the team with the higher overall rating will win, PSU will go 11-1 only losing to one of the best teams in the country on the road. This would lead one to believe that PSU is a BCS caliber team with an outside shot of playing for the National Title! This is opposed to a more sober, and commonly held, belief that the Lions will lose 3-4 games this year.

I don't know how realistic it is but it sure is fun to think of the possibilities.

GO (virtual) STATE!

The photo and stats were all found on the NCAA 09 website.

Rankings and Beyond

Both the AP and Coaches poll are out and Penn State's win over Notre Dame have catapulted them to #12 in both polls. Ohio State struggled against Akron but Tosu managed to bump its rank up to #10. However, we will truly see what the Buckeyes are made of as they have to travel to face the Huskies next week. Would you want to have to go face Washington right now? Ty Willingham is twice the coach Charlie Weiss is.

Wisconsin is still hovering in the top ten at #7 despite only beating UNLV by 7. They will similarly not be tested against the Citadel this week in Madison. However, the Bulldogs just beat Webber 76-0. So you can't sleep on the Bulldogs.

Is there any other conclusion that can be reached other than "The Big Ten is Down...Like Big East Down!"?
By the way, how big a game is PSU vs. Iowa (week 6) starting to look now?

Michigan is edging closer and closer to seppuku after losing to Oregon and staring 0-3 right in the face as Notre Dame comes to the Big (Quiet) House next week. It really doesn't matter to me who wins this game but if Michigan loses its third straight at home, you just need to blow that sucker up. Because it is at a home for Michigan they need the win more.

The Lions face off against the Buffalo Bulls next week. I broke them down a million years ago and it can be found here. However, with the way the Defense has been playing I think the Bulls might be lucky to escape uninjured. I previously predicted:
PSU: 69
Bulls: 12

I'll stick by this but with one caveat; all 12 Buffalo points will come with less than 20 minutes left in the game.



GO STATE! GET FIRED UP FOR THE BULLS!

Preseason College Rankings

It is never to early to start ranking the teams....at least not for Stewart Mandel over at CNNSI.com. PSU got squeezed in at #14 which i can support. It isn't totally overhyping the team but it is leaving them close enough to make a move to the top. I give you...Mandel's rankings:

14

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Penn State Nittany Lions (9-4) Key returnees: QB Anthony Morelli, WR Derrick Williams LBs Dan Connor and Sean Lee, CB Justin King Spring star: CB A.J. Wallace. Coaches moved one of last year's starting corners, Tony Davis, to safety to open up a spot for the sophomore speedster. Spring recap: All eyes were on RB Austin Scott, the 2004 freshman sensation who, following several setbacks, is finally set to take over for departed star Tony Hunt. Penn State's front seven figures to be a strength, with youngsters like DE Maurice Evans and DT Phillip Taylor emerging.

GO STATE! POSITION YOURSELF FOR A RISE TO THE TOP!

#24

After winning five of its last six games, including a whoopin' of the Vols, PSU has climbed back into the top 25. Hopefully, this will begin the Lions trek towards a national title next year. Yes, I am talking about a National Title. Yes, I think it could really happen....and you can put that in your pipe and smoke it!