Penn State Preview

Big Ten play begins this weekend
for the Hawkeyes

Hawk fans....and so it begins. Big Ten play is here, and the Hawkeyes will definitely want to start off with a 1-0 record in the competitive Legends Division. They will have a very good chance to do so on Saturday in Happy Valley as they take on a 4-1 Penn State team. Iowa has really dominated Penn State in recent years, winning the last 3 match-ups, and 8 out of the last 10. PSU is looking to quiet the Hawkeye faithful's boastful talk of "having Penn State's number." Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes, fresh off a bye week, need to start of B1G play with a statement. This road game will provide a great opportunity.

 If the Nittany Lions plan to beat Iowa for the first time since 2007, they will have to get their offense together. They still have not sorted out their QB situation, and it is really bringing down their offensive production. Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin have been splitting time through 5 games. At this point, Penn State has an extra game on Iowa, so the stats are skewed. Let's take a look at stats on a per game basis.

Offensive Statistics
Per Game	IOWA	PENN ST.
Yards	421.8	370
Passing	289.3	229.4
Rushing	140	148.2
Points	37.8	23.2

Iowa simply has a more productive offense. Averaging over 50 yards more per game, as well as putting up an average of nearly 38 points/game compared to PSU's 23.2. The Nittany Lion offense, though decent, is definitely not their strong point. Only scoring 16 points on a weak Indiana defense last week really didn't help their confidence, and they only put up 14 on Temple. So far, Penn State has had to rely on their defense.Penn State is putting up much better numbers defensively than Iowa. Penn State has allowed an average of 12 points a game, currently ranking 7th in the nation.

So the real match-up on Saturday will be this: a classic face off between a high powered offense and a stifling defense. Iowa's hyped up passing threat is sure to be a challenge for a Penn State secondary who is without their starting CB D'Anton Lynn. Penn State's defense will definitely be the best Iowa has seen all year, and will pose new challenges for James Vandenberg.

Keys to the Game:

*Defense- It is critical for Penn State to keep the game low-scoring since they do not have the offensive fire power to keep up with Iowa. However, the real pressure may fall on Iowa's defense. Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin have had trouble finding consistency, and should not be able to excel. Remember though, Iowa's defense is slightly weaker than it has been in past years. Kirk Ferentz and Norm Parker have had 2 weeks to prepare for the sluggish Penn State offense, but if they can't stop the run, there could be major problems.

Penn St. RB Silas Redd
has rushed for 432 yards
in 5 games

*Running Game- Penn State RB Silas Redd has rushed for 432 yards this season (86.4 per game, 4.7 per carry). If Redd gets running, Iowa may have trouble holding the PSU offense down. On the flip side, Marcus Coker actually averages more yards than Redd per game (95), and has had two 100 yard rushing performances already this season. With two talented running backs on the field, whoever can establish the run will have a major offensive advantage. More importantly, the defense that fails to stop the run will be in for a long day.

*Atmosphere- It is well known in University Park that Iowa owns Penn State. The seniors on the team have never beat Iowa in three tries, not to mention the rest of the underclassmen. Penn State's players and fans want this game specifically to end the talk of struggles against Iowa, if not for the 2-0 B1G record. Beaver Stadium will be rocking for the ABC coverage on Saturday afternoon. The home field advantage is alive and well, and how the young Iowa team deals with the atmosphere will greatly affect this outcome.

Prediction:

Iowa-28 Penn State- 17

Penn State will put some points up in the first half, but their defense will not be able to stop Iowa's passing attack in the end. Sure, PSU's defense has stellar numbers, but who have they played? Indiana State, Temple, Eastern Michigan, and Indiana aren't exactly the most potent offenses. The only legitimate team they've played (Alabama) put up 27, showing that there is some vulnerability in the 7th ranked D. Iowa will have some troubles, but they will eventually expose the Penn State defense, and steal a win on the road.

Check these articles on Marvin McNutt and Shaun Prater

*McNutt is 1 TD catch away from tying Iowa's all time TD receptions record

-IS