Rece Davis picks Penn State to upset Ohio State

No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 3 Ohio State is the biggest game on this weekend’s schedule and one of the Big Ten’s most important games all season. Now, Rece Davis has called his shot for the matchup between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.

Davis made several picks on Saturday’s slate during the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Thursday. He started by noting the significance of this game in the conference, in the national landscape, and for Penn State as a program.

“We spent a great deal of time on Wednesday talking about this game, its significance in the Big Ten East race, its significance in the College Football Playoff race, and its significance to Penn State getting to that elite status by winning a game like this,” Davis said. “They’re 1-8 against Ohio State under James Franklin. They’ve lost six in a row to them, two of them by one point. Many times, they’ve had control of the game in the fourth quarter.”

However, even with those records going against James Franklin’s team, that doesn’t take away from their opportunity tomorrow in Columbus. To him, as well as many others, it’s the prime opportunity for the Nittany Lions to move up the ladder to be on the same field as Ohio State and Michigan rather than just a rung below.

That’s why, with his official pick, Davis went with Penn State to cover and win in The ‘Shoe for one of the program’s more significant victories in some time.

“I think Penn State is the better team. I think, Penn State? If not now, when?” asked Davis.

“I’m taking Penn State – not only to cover that +4.5 but I think this is the week, this is the Saturday,” Davis said. “I think Penn State wins it outright.”

Davis addresses Penn State’s mental hurdle vs. Ohio State

Penn State has grown tired of being the little brother to Michigan and Ohio State. Even so, do they have enough this season to overcome what Rece Davis sees as a mental block when it comes to the Buckeyes?

Davis spoke about the Nittany Lion’s mindset heading into their Top-10 matchup in Columbus on the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Wednesday. He does think Penn State is starting from some kind of disadvantage considering just how many fits that Ohio State, or ranked teams like this, has given them in James Franklin’s tenure.

“The mental hurdle that Penn State has against this team? I mean James Franklin is 1-8 against Ohio State,” said Davis. “Well-documented struggles, they haven’t won a road game like this against a Top-10 team, poor record against Top-10 teams overall.”

There have also been several moments where the Nittany Lions could have rewritten this narrative already. Those are the demons that Davis is looking to see them cast out this weekend.

“The one critique that I believe is fair is their inability to finish them, which they haven’t been able to do,” Davis said.

This could be the moment for Penn State to try and move up in the pecking order amongst this trio. That’s why, with all things considered, Davis sees this as the opportunity that Franklin and the Nittany Lions need to seize and the mountain that they must overcome.

“There is something to it – not just the raw record,” said Davis. “There is something to that mental hurdle of can they get over the hump against these guys? Particularly in that stadium? It’ll be a huge measuring stick.”

“If not now, when? It’s kind of like if you’re going to beat them in Columbus? This is a pretty good year to try to do it,” Davis said. “I think it’s a really big moment for Penn State and James Franklin.”