I'm not saying Ohio State is cursed to barely eeking it out against Purdue year-in, year-out, but the numbers speak for themselves. No matter how bad the Boilers are, they consistently come within inches of redeeming (or partially redeeming) lost seasons by playing the Buckeyes closer than most. There is no real precedent for tomorrow being any different; the Ohio State offense is middling at best and anemic at worst, and while the defense is absolutely phenomenal, it literally can't turn in another performance like it did against Wisconsin.

Thus, Terrelle Pryor and/or Brandon Saine will have to look worlds better, and chances are good that Ohio State will need to score at least two offensive touchdowns, and do so by the half. Then, they can let the defense go to work with minimal exertion. Purdue, being Purdue, can pass itself out of a deficit, being the conference's best passing offense, but it absolutely cannot afford a single turnover. Ohio State will pounce.

I'm looking for a few things from both Buckeye units tomorrow. Obviously, some consistency on offense would make me happy in the pants. I've given up hope on expecting 200+ yards through the air again at any point this season from Terrelle Pryor, but hopefully, a 60 percent completion percentage and greater than 10 yards/attempt aren't too high as far as expectations. One thing that I really, really want to see from Pryor though: consistent short-and-mid-range accuracy. This is the biggest hitch in his game's giddy-up (yes I said it), and just some meager progress here would be excellent, as it would give him just a modicum of confidence in this aspect of his game.

I'd also like to see a far better game on the ground than we saw last year vs. the Boilers. Shouldn't be too hard, especially if Brandon Saine sees the holes and actually hits them on the way to a 100+ yard day. It's the seventh game of the season; the rushing attack death star should be fully operational. If it isn't, that final stretch is looking much, much more daunting. One final thing: I'd like to see either Mike Adams or JB Shugarts lock up Ryan Kerrigan, who had a field day against tOSU last year.

Defensively, there isn't much more you can ask for, is there? But I'm gonna do it: moar sackz plz. 44th in the country in sacks last year (2.1 a game, 28 on the season) gave me some serious sack blue balls, and I've been partially satiated by our present blistering pace (3.3 a game, 20 on the season). We're fourth in the country, but I want to keep up the pace. More specifically, I'd like to see Thaddeus Gibson nab a few; he's been after quarterbacks all year, he just hasn't actually laid a hand on them to bring them down often enough. 

Lastly, Robert Bolden is the conference's second leading rusher, behind John Clay. Clay had no success against the Buckeye front, and Bolden hasn't rushed for 100 yards since week two. Holding the Boilers to around 75 yards total on the ground would be splendiferous.

Five predictions that will make me look foolish come Monday :

- Terrelle Pryor partially returns to form, accounting for 225 yards of offense

- Brandon Saine notches his second 100-yard rushing day of the season

- The defense totals four sacks.

- Brian Rolle picks off a pass.

Final Score: Ohio State 29, Purdue 13