Penn St. insulted by point spread

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The oddsmakers say that Penn State won’t be within 21/2 touchdowns of No. 8 Ohio State today.

Some snarling Nittany Lions say those oddsmakers are dead wrong.

“It was definitely brought up,” running back Evan Royster said. “It’s kind of insulting. I think we’ve proven that we can put points on the board, that we can win games. A lot of teams (would) take offense to it, and it will make us work harder.”

Quarterback Matt McGloin agreed.

“It’s upsetting for a school like Penn State, people think we’re 18- or 17-point underdogs,” he said. “For someone to throw out big numbers like that is just ridiculous.”

So those who set the betting line have provided a world of incentive to a Penn State team (6-3, 2-2 Big Ten) that has followed a meandering start by winning four of the last five.

That’s a major concern for Ohio State (8-1, 4-1), caught up in a four-team logjam atop the Big Ten. With the season-shaping showdown looming next week at Iowa, about the last thing the Buckeyes wanted was to tangle with an angry team that feels slighted.

“Anything that is paid attention to outside of what needs to be, can have an effect,” coach Jim Tressel said. “If our guys are paying attention to someone prognosticating where they’re a favorite, then they’re thinking about the wrong things. So, yeah, I guess it can work against you.”

In a series as tight as this one — the Buckeyes hold a slim 13-12 upper hand — such a huge point spread seems extreme. Only two of the last nine meetings have been decided by more than 17 points.

Yet some of the Nittany Lions welcome the motivation.

“We haven’t played well against really good teams this year, so there’s no reason for anyone to have any type of confidence in us,” defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said.

The Buckeyes, who’ve won at least a share of the last five Big Ten titles, know they can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want to make it six. They’re consoled by the feeling that they know what it takes down the stretch. Under Tressel, the Buckeyes are 26-4 in November.