The Saturday Cadence crew breaks down the Buckeyes’ dominance, previews Oklahoma vs. Tennessee, identifies potential upsets, and delivers their Saturday Seven Picks.
Week 10 in college football brings a heavyweight matchup in Columbus as Penn State travels to take on top-ranked Ohio State. The Buckeyes continue to dominate on both sides of the ball. Still, interim coach Terry Smith’s squad is desperate for a signature win to salvage their season.
Ohio State has looked like the nation’s most complete team through nine weeks, pairing a veteran offensive line and balanced attack with a defense that’s become the standard in college football. The question is: can anyone slow them down?
The Saturday Cadence crew: Blake Biscardi, David Wertheim, and Grant Kincaid opened Episode 143 by debating who truly deserves the top spot in the country. The consensus points toward Ohio State, but Texas A&M and Indiana continue to make noise as well.
The Aggies are fresh off a statement win over LSU that cost Brian Kelly his job. At the same time, Indiana remains one of the biggest surprises in college football behind a gritty defense and clutch quarterback play. Still, Ohio State’s consistency and dominance across the board separate them from the pack.
Down south, Oklahoma and Tennessee square off in a game with massive SEC and College Football Playoff implications. The Sooners have struggled to find an offensive rhythm, raising the question: Can Oklahoma score enough to stay alive?
Meanwhile, Josh Heupel’s Vols look every bit the part of a dark horse contender. Their defense continues to improve weekly, and quarterback play has given the program a legitimate chance to challenge for the CFP and SEC crown. Saturday’s matchup will determine which team stays in the national conversation and which one fades from the playoff discussion.
For Penn State, this week represents more than just another conference game. It’s a chance to get over the Ohio State hurdle finally. The Nittany Lions haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 2016, and close calls and late collapses in this series have haunted the program.
Ohio State enters as the heavy favorite behind its explosive offense and the nation’s most disciplined defense. Penn State will need to win at the line of scrimmage and force turnovers to stay within striking distance. Running the ball and executing a ball-control style game plan is also key for Penn State.
The subplot adds intrigue: defensive coordinator Jim Knowles returns to Columbus, facing the program he helped elevate to defensive dominance. His familiarity with the Buckeyes’ tendencies could give Penn State a fighting chance, but slowing down this Ohio State machine is a monumental task.
Upset Alerts and Picks
Elsewhere, a couple of potential landmines loom large:
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Georgia Tech (-5.5) at NC State
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Virginia (-4.5) at California
Both games feature teams capable of springing a surprise and shaking up the middle tier of the rankings.
The crew also locked in their Saturday Seven Picks for Week 10:
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Vanderbilt @ Texas (-2.5)
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Miami (-12.5) @ SMU
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Georgia (-7.5) @ Florida
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Oklahoma @ Tennessee (-3.5)
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USC (-6.5) @ Nebraska
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Cincinnati @ Utah (-10.5)
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Penn State @ Ohio State (-20.5)
The calendar flips to November next week, meaning the race for conference titles and playoff berths is officially on. Every game carries added weight, and contenders must prove they can finish.
Ohio State looks like the clear No. 1 team in the country, but college football always finds a way to surprise us. Whether it’s a trap game in Columbus or an upset in Knoxville, Week 10 will define the road to the postseason.
Listen to Episode 143 of Saturday Cadence on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Stay locked in with The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) and follow @SaturdayCadence and @BlakeBiscardi on social media for coverage, clips, and weekly picks throughout the season.
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Blake Biscardi, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, is The Silver Bulletin’s Senior Editor and the Creator & Host of the Saturday Cadence podcast, a national college football show. As a trusted voice on Ohio State, the Big Ten, and College Football Playoff since 2016, Biscardi is a proud member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a two-time Graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.