Alar is a 'game-time decision' in the game against Ohio State, what does this mean for the game and Penn STates playoff chances?
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00:00Ohio State and Penn State. Now we don't know about Penn State quarterback Drew
00:04Aller and his availability. Didn't play in the second half on Saturday of Penn
00:07State's win against Wisconsin, so we don't know about Aller. We probably won't
00:10know if it's college football. Probably won't know until the game starts. Ohio
00:14State visiting Penn State. Femi, talk to us about this game. Talk to us about how
00:19it impacts the college football playoff. Ohio State obviously with one loss
00:23already in the road game at Oregon a couple weeks ago. Yeah, it goes without
00:27saying this is a massive game, but it's a massive game for different reasons than
00:31the previous iteration of the college football playoff. Now usually this would
00:35be like an elimination game for Ohio State in the 14 playoff era. It's not an
00:39elimination game because there's still a path for them to get there if they do
00:41lose, but there's no path for them to be like a top four seed if they do lose
00:45because to be a top four seed you have to be a conference champion. Like that's
00:49the big thing with this playoff. Five automatic qualifiers as conference
00:53champions and then seven at-large bids. So if you're Ohio State, you want a path
00:57to play in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game. If you lose this game, that's
01:01out the window because you're behind Indiana, you're behind Oregon, and right
01:05now you're behind Penn State. Those three teams unbeaten in Big Ten conference
01:08play. Ohio State is not. They lost to Oregon in Eugene a couple of weeks ago.
01:12So Ohio State, and even Penn State for that matter, this is like not a must win
01:16game for the playoff, but it's a big time game because if they don't get there,
01:20the highest seed that they could possibly be is a five seed, meaning you
01:24don't get that first round five. The top four seed teams are the ones that get
01:27the first round five. The five seed would have to play the 12 seed, which
01:30yeah, Ohio State would be a big time favorite, but you also have to play
01:33another game, another chance for injuries, knock on wood, just another
01:36chance to get upset. You want to only have to win three games versus four
01:41games to win the national title. And I think if you can go ahead and get by
01:44that, then you're in pretty good shape. So for right now, Ohio State and Penn
01:48State, the Buckeyes minus a thousand to make the playoff. Penn State's minus
01:51650. As to who I think wins the game, I think Ohio State wins it just because
01:56they really, really need this one. Like they at least can tie and get to that
02:00one loss status.
02:00It's the need spot?
02:02I think they need it. They can't afford to lose this. If they lose this game.
02:05It's the need spot. They can't afford to unlove it.
02:08They can't afford to lose versus the James Franklin against a really good
02:11team spot. That's another angle about this game as well.
02:14I like that one. I like that one. I like that.
02:16I like Ohio State, but I'm curious to see where the market goes. I really don't
02:20want to lay this number without having clarity on Drew Aller. My guess, and I
02:24have no inside information, I think Aller plays. They take it right up to kickoff.
02:28I think he plays. But James Franklin said that it was not precautionary holding him
02:31out of that second half against Wisconsin. It was a legitimate knee injury.
02:35Yeah. Yeah. Right. Let's just go ahead and just keep him out there. Although the
02:39backup did pretty decent. Like it was able to lead the team down a couple of
02:41touchdown drives. It wasn't bad. Penn State, they have a lot of good players.
02:44But I think in this spot, I like Ohio State. And if Ohio State wins, then
02:49they're still with all the chances of maybe being the number one seed during the
02:52bracket. Whenever it gets revealed, they can avenge the loss to Oregon.
02:55So right now, Ohio State would be the team that I would bet to win this game.
02:59I have not bet it right now. I just want to see where things go.
03:01But I think the Buckeyes ultimately win and get themselves back in the driver's seat
03:05to ultimately win the Big Ten and avenge that loss to the Ducks from a couple of
03:08weeks ago. And Femi brings up an amazing point here, right?
03:12If you like Ohio State, if you have bet Ohio State to win the Natty, like got to
03:16have them win this game to harbor hopes of a top four seed and get a buy in the first
03:19round of the college football playoff.
03:20Now, Tyler and I talked about this last week with Penn State.
03:24When I asked the question, right, if you had to take a team at double digit odds to win
03:28the Natty, not to make the playoff, to win the national championship, we both arrived
03:33at Penn State. And maybe this is really stupid.
03:35And maybe James Franklin just chokes on the big spot against a good team.
03:37Also, it is Ryan Day on the other sideline.
03:40Yeah.
03:42Mm hmm.
03:44If if Drew Aller plays.
03:48I'm going to bet Penn State Moneyline.
03:51Ayo.
03:54We won't know until later in the week, saying I, I think Drew Aller's awesome.
03:59I think he's got the goods big time.
04:02Ohio State almost lost to Nebraska this weekend.
04:04I'm not that does not mean I don't think Ohio State is bad.
04:06Just saying Penn State Moneyline, if Drew Aller plays and I'll tell you about this.
04:11If Aller doesn't play, let the market bet Ohio State out and I'll bet Penn State plus
04:16the points at the death.