psufan25

Just a correction on the above, the PSU Alabama spread was 10 so Alabama covered that one. Make the ATS record 11-5 instead of 12-4.

@gravejdI would have to pull up exact numbers, but based on my historical knowledge of the teams PSU would have been the favorite in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, and 2019. All other years PSU would have been dogs. I can tell you that PSU definitely covered in: 2004, 2005 (straight up W), 2007, 2010 (straight up W), 2011 (backdoor cover), 2012, 2013 (straight up W), 2014, 2016 (straight up W), 2017, and 2018. The opponent definitely covered in: 2009, 2015, 2019 (barely) I am unsure about 2006, Michigan would have been favored but I don't recall by how much, it would've probably been right around that 7 though. Lets say that UM covered this. I am also unsure about 2008, PSU would have been the favorite, but Illinois was ranked at the time so it likely wouldn't have been a 14 point spread. I'll say PSU covered that one. So my estimation that in whiteout games PSU is 12-4 ATS.

Here is the full list of PSU's record in white out games. Note that not all of these games are full stadium whiteouts (some were just students) they only started doing the yearly stadium whiteouts in 2011. I've bolded the ones that were full stadium whiteouts. Note that the 2004 Purdue, 2011 Alabama, and 2015 Michigan games were noon or afternoon games and not night games. Also note that the 2009 Iowa game was in a monsoon (I was there, most rain I've ever seen at a PSU game) which basically muted the stadium whiteout effect. I have been to every one of these games except for 2004 and 2006. Illinois got it in 2008 because of how poor PSU's home schedule was that year. I forget the reason why Iowa got it over OSU in 2009. PSU was the lower ranked team in all of these games except for 2007 through 2009, 2017, and 2019. PSU's record is not surprising given how much Ohio State gets this game (along with having it 1 year for Alabama), and the fact that 2012 through 2015 were the biggest impact years from the sanctions. I would say games where the whiteout changed the outcome would be in 2005, 2013, and 2016. 2014 almost changed the outcome but OSU held on in OT. 2018 PSU had a 2 TD lead in the fourth quarter which they blew, so that one should have been a win. The rest of the winning years PSU was simply the better team. Not using this to make a point, just wanted to share some fun facts about the whiteout. Prior to whiteouts PSU tried a student blueout once, but we won't talk about that anymore. Year Opponent Penn State result 2004 No. 9 Purdue L 13–21 2005 No. 6 Ohio State W 17–10 2006 No. 4 Michigan L 10–17 2007 Notre Dame W 31–10 2008 No. 22 Illinois W 38–24 2009 Iowa L 10–21 2010 Michigan W 41–31 2011 No. 3 Alabama L 11–27 2012 No. 9 Ohio State L 23–35 2013 No. 18 Michigan W 43–40 (4OT) 2014 No. 13 Ohio State L 24–31 (2OT) 2015 No. 14 Michigan L 16–28 2016 No. 2 Ohio State W 24–21 2017 No. 19 Michigan W 42–13 2018 No. 4 Ohio State L 26–27 2019 No. 16 Michigan W 28–21

Good reading in most of this thread aside from the trolling earlier. Couple of quick things after reading through: Clifford, while the PSU OC would not like him to run, has a lot of running ability if need be and is actually one of the faster guys on the team. Probably played one of his better and most efficient games of his career last week against BS, but I have too many bad memories of him making bad decisions in the pocket in previous years to just forget them after 1 good game. IF he can avoid throwing off his back foot and continue not turning the ball over I expect him to play very well. Huge dropoff at QB after Clifford, so fingers crossed he doesn't get hurt. Will look worse than the A&M offense last week if he does. Even though PSU had a bunch of deep balls against Wisconsin, typically Yurcich offenses want to spread the ball around and get the ball out quickly. Especially against a linebacker group as good as Auburn's expect PSU to get the ball out quickly along the edge to Dotson #5 and Washington #3. Don't see PSU having too many deep shots in this game, similar to what they did against BS. PSU lacks proven depth at receiver so if an injury occurs it will have a big impact. While PSU is pretty good at pass protection (Walker #53 LT is a first round pick candidate), they still struggle in run blocking (although better once they made the change at LG). For Cain #21 to have success they need to get him outside the tackles and away from the LBs if possible. PSU has not really been able to involve the TE much despite the talent that is there, and I don't see that changing this game. For defense, PSU is led on DL by Ebikiete #17, who is their best pass rusher and put up monster numbers vs Wisconsin. Luketa #40 made a switch from LB to DE over the offseason and has paid off as he has played very well in that role (while not starting). DTs have played decent against the run, however I think some improved play is capable with the talent there. One of the project DT starters Beamon #51 has been inactive the first 2 games with an off the field issue, not sure if he will return for this game. Lots of depth at DT, not a lot of depth at DE. The LBs are led by the Mike LB Brooks #13. He was suspended for the first half of the BS game for targeting, and was replaced by #40 who is a huge dropoff in terms of play quality at the Mike position. The LBs in general play much better when #13 is in the game. Smith #12 is a freak athlete, but tends to find himself struggling in coverage when put in that position. Another position where quality depth is a concern. The secondary has been touted as a strength for PSU, so far they haven't really been tested much so can't really speak much to them. Brisker #1 is an All-American caliber safety. Saw posted somewhere that he is a Soph, he is actually a JUCO transfer who is a RS SR. Lots of quality depth at all positions. PSU has the same guy doing punting and kicking (Stout), as a punter he has been excellent, as a kicker he has left some to be desired. Classic case of trying to put too much leg on the ball when it isn't necessarily needed.