DaytonDailyNews.com

A position-by-position analysis of today's game

Quarterback

OSU's Todd Boeckman has led the Big Ten in passing efficiency

all season, while counterpart Anthony Morelli is just eighth.

Edge: OSU.

Running backs

Penn State suspended first-string tailback Austin Scott three weeks ago, but fifth-year senior Rodney Kinlaw, who has rushed for 728 yards with a 5.2 average this season, was poised to take over the starting job anyway. Edge: OSU.

Receivers

No team in the Big Ten has a better trio than Penn State's Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood. Foes may lock up one with a shut-down corner, but that allows the others to roam free. Edge: PSU.

Offensive line

The Lions are just eighth in the Big Ten in total offense, and they're having Morelli take three-step drops to make up for deficiencies in pass protection. Edge: OSU.

Defensive line

The Nittany Lions sent three D-linemen to the NFL in 2006, and soph Maurice Evans (18.5 tackles for loss) will soon be joining them. But the front four has been hit by a rash of injuries. Edge: OSU.

Linebackers

Penn State's trio is fast, physical and cerebral. Linebacker U?

Yeah, it fits. Edge: PSU.

Defensive backs

Justin King put a Hefty trash bag over a pair of first-round NFL draft picks last season in OSU's Ted Ginn Jr. (two catches, 15 yards) and Tennessee's Robert Meachem (one reception, minus-6 yards). But the speedy junior and the rest of the secondary has underachieved this year. Edge: OSU.

Special teams

Walk-on Jeremy Boone, who beat out a scholarship player for the PSU punting job, is second in the nation in net average. But kicker Kevin Kelly hasn't exactly been Mr. Clutch, and the kick-coverage unit is next-to-last nationally in yards allowed. Edge: OSU.

Prediction: Ohio State 13, Penn State 10

Mark Brennan has covered Penn State sports for about two decades and has learned he can gauge whether fans are wired for football games by taking a peak at "Paternoville."

That's the name given to the area outside the stadium where students pitch tents to become first through the gates for seats. And Brennan, the editor of a fan periodical called Fight On State!, said the grounds had become so crammed by mid-week that the school opened the basketball arena for extra space.

"It was probably twice what it was for the Notre Dame game this season," he said. "That's a pretty good indication of how people are freaking out about this game."

The Nittany Lions played before some apathetic crowds while posting four losing seasons in five years from 2000-04, but a Big Ten title and Orange Bowl victory in '05 brought the masses back.

"It's one of those deals where you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone," Brennan said. "Fans, and especially students, realized this is something special we have here and we don't want to lose it.

"I have a tough time imagining many better home-field advantages than what Penn State is going to have at 8 o'clock (tonight)."