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Penn St. Nittany Lions (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Temple Owls (1-1, Big East)
3:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 22, 2012 - ESPN
Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 107,252) / University Park, PA
| Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Temple | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 107.67 (102) |
178.0 (81) | Rushing Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 233.33 (66) |
171.5 (22) | Passing Defense (ypg) |  |
| Pass Efficiency | 128.79 (73) |
123.15 (58) | Pass Efficiency Defense | Push |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 341.0 (99) |
349.5 (45) | Total Defense (ypg) |
|
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 21.33 (98) |
23.0 (58) |
Scoring Defense (ppg) | |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 154.0 (64) |
176.5 (56) |
Rushing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 241.0 (74) |
119.5 (118) |
Passing Offense (ypg) |  |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 136.93 (88) |
137.87 (54) |
Pass Efficiency | |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 395.0 (68) |
296.0 (111) |
Total Offense (ypg) | |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 16.0 (28) |
34.0 (44) |
Scoring Offense (ppg) | Push |
| Net Punting Yds | 35.09 (86) |
16.8 (21) |
Punt Return Yds |
|
| Punt Return Yds | 2.0 (104) |
40.0 (25) |
Net Punting Yds |
|
| Kickoff Return Yds | 18.57 (84) |
15.25 (12) |
Kickoff Return Defense |
|
| Kickoff Return Defense | 18.38 (37) |
20.56 (63) |
Kickoff Return Yds | Push |
| Turnover Margin | +1.67/gm (11) |
+1.50/gm (15) |
Turnover Margin | Push |
| Penalty Yds/Game | 31.67 (11) |
43.0 (44) |
Penalty Yds/Game | |
| Sacks | 2.33/gm (42) |
1.50/gm (T-48) |
Sacks Allowed | Push |
| Sacks Allowed | 1.0/gm (23) |
4.0/gm (T-6) |
Sacks | Push |
| Redzone Offense (%) | 60% (110) |
83% (75) |
Redzone Defense (%) | |
| Redzone Defense (%) | 75% (41) |
86% (46) |
Redzone Offense (%) | |
| Redzone TD % | 50% |
50% |
Redzone TD % Defense | Push |
| Redzone TD % Defense | 63% | 43% |
Redzone TD % | |
| 3rd Down Conv. % | 44.68 (46) |
40.0 (72) |
3rd Down Defense % | |
| 3rd Down Defense % | 50.98 (111) |
35.71 (87) |
3rd Down Conv. % | Push |
| 1st Downs Per Game | 18.67 (86) |
18.50 (47) |
1st Downs Allowed PG | |
| 1st Downs Allowed PG | 20.33 (66) |
12.0 (120) | 1st Downs Per Game |
|
Difference <25 in National Rank = Push
Difference >25 in National Rank =
Difference >50 in National Rank =
Difference >75 in National Rank =
Difference >100 in National Rank =
Note: The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgment.
Quick thoughts: Don't believe for one second that because Temple matches up well here, the Owls are ready to shock the world for the first time since 1941. Temple has played Maryland and FCS Villanova. Against the Terps, Temple had nine first downs, 230 total yards, and three turnovers. Maryland helped them out with four fumbles of its own. So this year's Temple team isn't what we've come to expect in recent seasons, when the Owls were actually pretty good.
On the other hand, Penn State's stats are also misleading. After a game that turned on a few fluke plays, Penn State actually dominated Virginia on the stat sheet. Of course, stats don't matter unless they're turned into points. Penn State didn't do that at UVA, and lost a one-point game. Last week, the Lions seemed to put it all together, at least as far as three games would allow.
Until the season moves along even further, I wouldn't put too much stock into stats. It takes at least four or five games before the straight stats really start to show you something about a team.
What say you?
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