While the game against Michigan may have more historical significance, make no mistake, this game against Penn State is the Big Ten game of the year, at least in the East Division. It will be hard for the loser of this game to get back into the Big Ten East race, barring a multiple team tie where the head-to-head outcome of this game could be excused but at this point in time, the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both seem to be ahead of the Spartans and Wolverines in terms of where they stand in the Big Ten hierarchy.

Ohio State lost its last game in Happy Valley and special teams were a nightmare in that game with Penn State blocking a field goal in the 4th quarter to score the game winning touchdown and knocking then No. 2 Ohio State from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Last year's game, back in Columbus, was a barnburner that saw the Buckeyes rally back under a perfect 4th quarter from J.T. Barrett and a 39-38 win helped atone for a disappointing loss just a year before.

Ohio State had won the previous four meetings in State College (Pa.) before that 2016 game and would like to start that streak up again. Are we in for another nail-biter type of game or does one team hold a significant edge going into this one? We make our picks leading up to this Clash of the (Big Ten) Titans.

The Penn State trip is not a fun one for anyone involved if you are not there to root for the home team. As the media, I am there to root for the pregame meal and making it out of State College in one piece. The first time I covered a game there, I had a woman of at least 60-years-old shoot me the bird because I had Ohio tags on my car. Welcome to Happy Valley.

I know how not to expect a warm reception and the Buckeyes have known that for quite some time. Urban Meyer make no secret that it is tough place to play and there is a strong desire that this game would stop being the annual 'white out' and stop being the annual 'night game' as well.

Neither of those wishes are going to become reality any time soon. This is Penn State's biggest game, unrivaled or not, Ohio State is Penn State's rival. They recruit the same kids, they both compete in the same division and the Land Grant Trophy is not going to make Michigan State the rival of Penn State nor will the artificial addition of Maryland and Rutgers change who Penn State wants to beat most in the year.

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As for the game? This game has all the makings of being a high-scoring affair which means it will probably be low scoring because that is just how these things work out. But I cannot bring myself to pick a low scoring game with two teams that are putting up more than half-a-hundred points per game, apiece.

Dwayne Haskins will be tested, the Ohio State run game will have a big game and the Ohio State throw game will be able to do something that it was unable to do in 2016 when the offense got bottled up, stretch the field. Penn State will score points too as this 2018 defense is not the 2016 defense in terms of being stifling out there and limiting big plays.

Each team will throw repeated haymakers and connect on many of them. Message boards throughout Buckeye Nation will be filled with drunken swear-filled posts about how poorly the team is playing but none of those posts will hold up well as the Buckeyes will be able to move the ball at will against this Penn State defense that is not nearly up to snuff with defenses of the past.

Once all the dust settles, the Buckeyes offense will hold serve more than the Penn State offense will and special teams will not play a major role in this one. Ohio State will miss Nick Bosa and his participation would make this an easier game to watch, but even without him, I like the Buckeyes by a touchdown. Ohio State 45 Penn State 38

Like the Ohio State defense, the Penn State defense is the Nittany Lions' weakest unit. But unlike the Buckeye defense -- which has a solid S & P+ success rate but is vulnerable to big plays, Penn State's defense is fairly vulnerable on a per-play basis. Look for Penn State to follow a similar game plan to TCU -- slant the defensive front with backside edge pressure -- to limit the Ohio State run game and force Dwayne Haskins and his offensive line to demonstrate that they can handle the Beaver Stadium environment. The Buckeye offense needs to continue with what it is doing; using front side runs like counter trey and split zone, and relying upon the passing game to move the football with plays like mesh and four verticals.

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For the Ohio State defense, the key is limiting mistakes that result in big plays for touchdowns. Like Penn State, the Buckeyes will likely focus first on limiting the Penn State run and RPO game. Look for defensive coordinator Greg Schiano to frequently slant his defensive line to the boundary with backside pressure, backed by a 3 deep, 3 under zone with the backside safety coming down to limit RPO throws. Ohio Sate needs sound play and tackling from its boundary safety Isaiah Pryor. Schiano will likely again turn up the pressure on third down from his 3-3-5 package to try and replace Nick Bosa. I expect a high scoring game -- Trace McSorely and Miles Sanders will likely make plays, and the Ohio State offense's efficiency relative to the Penn State defense is a big advantage. In the end, I think that the Buckeyes are a more well rounded team, and can emerge with the victory. Ohio State 37 Penn State 33

Both teams enter this game hot offensively and with a few questions to answer on the defensive side of the ball. Just as Ohio State has seen no ill effects of losing long-time starting quarterback J.T. Barrett, Penn State has been able to shake off the loss of the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, running back Saquon Barkley. Both Dwayne Haskins and Miles Sanders are coming off big-time performances so this game should have some fireworks as both teams are hitting their stride offensively.

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Ohio State's defensive concerns have been centered around giving up big plays and it's going to be hard to correct that on Saturday in a loud environment against a team with plenty of offensive weapons. But the mental mistakes might be more easily correctable for the Buckeyes as Penn State has some issues in its front seven in terms of size and physicality that have showed up even in some blowout wins against over-matched opponents.

I expect both offenses to make their share of plays on Saturday night but I think Ohio State wins the trenches and pulls out a close game and another instant classic between the two programs. Ohio State 38 Penn State 31

Make no qualms about it, this is Ohio State's toughest game sans Thanksgiving weekend.

I'll cut to the chase: Ohio State's going to establish the run against this Penn State defense, open up the passing lanes for Dwayne Haskins, and by the second half the offense will be humming along once everyone's settled into the environment. Personally I think J.K. Dobbins has a big night, going for at least 120 yards.

Penn State is borderline one-dimensional on offense through four games this season, at least it appears Ohio State can make them that way. Trace McSorley is only completing 53% of his passes on the year to date, and there's simply no real weapons on the outside for the Nittany Lions. Converted tight end Juwan Johnson is wide receiver number two on the depth chart for crying outloud.

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That said, still expect some plays from McSorley and running back Miles Sanders. My view is that it won't be enough to keep up with Ohio State through four quarters. A crowd can only help so much.

This is a battle early, but much like TCU, the better overall team pulls away in the end. Ohio State 38 Penn State 27

Games like these are why we watch college football. Two teams that are the best in their division and conference battling it out on a primetime grand stage. The Buckeyes face their most daunting challenge of the year with the opponent and venue. All eyes will be on Dwayne Haskins to see if he can continue his record-breaking pace in one of the most difficult places to play at in a "white out" Beaver Stadium.

Penn State enters the game number one in the country in offense, albeit against inferior competition. Head coach James Franklin has his quarterback firing on all cylinders in Trace McSorley. With new additions of Miles Sanders and Jon Holland in exchange of Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki, the offenses loses some bite, but they haven't shown it yet.

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The Buckeyes will have to face this offense without Nick Bosa, who is still sidelined with an injury sustained two weeks ago against TCU. Although Robert Landers returns, the Buckeye defense will have it's work cut out for them with stopping an offense that will be as good as they will see all year.

This one will be an instant classic. Each team will have their lapses along the way in this game, as the lead will alternate back and forth. But in the end, the difference will be the balance of the Buckeye offense through the air with Haskins and on the ground with J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, as well as the offensive line stepping up to protect Haskins on the final drive to win the game. Ohio State 31 Penn State 27

The second biggest game of the year is now here. Urban Meyer has a chance to power slide into the fast lane of the playoffs if he can pull this victory off in Beaver Stadium. This environment is second to none in college football, and I urge every OSU fan to make the trip at least once for an OSU vs. PSU night game. This game is a playoff game in every sense and given how poor Nebraska is, we need this one to make it in.

Offensively, I look for this to be a shootout. Haskins has yet to be contained and if the offensive line can handle the noise, it will not be close. Despite that, we have seen some very good teams lose in this stadium. We will have to rely on the running game to stay ahead of the chains, and negative plays are like jet fuel to the already incredibly loud crowd. I look for JK to have a big night.

Defensively, if there is ever a game where we need a Bosa it is this one. Joey made his signature play in the 2014 edition of this game, and Nick will be sorely missed. Trace McSorley will be far and away the biggest offensive challenge that we will have on the schedule, so affecting him with our rush and limiting his scrambles will be huge. Also look for PSU to empty their bag of tricks, as it wasn’t an accident they called a QB throwback pass last week that went for a TD versus hapless Illinois (at TD negated by penalty). Our linebackers need to show up and avoid long drives and we will be fine. Ohio State 42 Penn State 31

The hardest place to play in America is now up for the Buckeyes and there isn’t a bigger game on the schedule than this one. Sure, Michigan looms in late November, but if we drop this one that game won’t mean too much. Coach Meyer getting back and getting his warm up for the season last week will pay big dividends in Happy Valley. We have been a mixed bag playing there since 2005, and I have won twice there and lost once. Our loss in 2005 ended our National Title hopes and is one that still stings (not to mention I got knocked out of the game on a FG attempt in the 2nd quarter).

This will be a major test for our offensive line, as Thayer and Malcolm have never experienced noise like they will experience this weekend. The stadium was a house of horrors for Isaiah last trip, so his ability to let them know how real it is will be an asset to the team. He is playing at a very very high level right now, and I think retribution will be on his mind. The OL will make or break the team this week, and this will be the biggest test of the year.

Defensively, our back seven has to show up and make plays on the ball to keep their explosive offense off of the field. They’ve shown they can start slow and rev up in a hurry, so keeping them off the field will be huge. Nothing kills a crowd quite like a dominant pass rush, so Dre’Mont is going to have to keep his All-American play up all night. Stop the run and rush the passer. Simple formula and we’ll be in great shape if we can execute it. Ohio State 31 Penn State 28

This is a game that Ohio State and Penn State have had marked on their calendars for months. Last year's game was extremely tough and extremely close, but both teams are different now. While Ohio State has gotten off to an amazing start defensively, they will be without arguably the best defensive player of the year, Nick Bosa, as they attempt to slow down Trace McSorley and Miles Sanders. However, the defense has been stellar thus far, and college football is a "next man up" league.

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Penn State won't know what hit them when Dwayne Haskins takes the field. If you aim to slowdown Haskins, then J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber will knife through Penn State's defense, and if you game plan for the run Haskins will be able to do as he pleases (he may be able to regardless). While I expect Haskins to come back down to earth this week, I predict 235 yards passing, with two touchdowns as well as another touchdown on the ground. Dobbins and Webber will continue their two-headed dominance and run for 175 total yards and a touchdown.

I do think Ohio State's defense will struggle early, but in the end Ohio State will come away with the win. I also believe they will cover the -3.5 spread that has been predicted for the game. Ohio State 31 Penn State 24

Here we go again. It’s Penn State aka Not Our Rival Week. Nittany Lions fans think this is their biggest game of their season and they love getting amped for it. For us, it’s another road game in a tough environment. Sure, they beat us there on a fluke two years ago but flukes are rare. This time around we’re ready for it. Penn State’s run defense isn’t that great and I’m expecting our offensive line to dominate, blocking holes for my Dobbins and Weber Jr. kids. Haskins Jr. will also make plays, making effective throws. Defensively, that McSorely kid will make some plays and they’ll score some points... but they won’t have enough to win. Sure, their rabid white-wearing idiots will be loud but I’m confident my team will silence them early on. Ohio State 38 Penn State 24