Penn St. Nittany Lions (5-4; 2-4 Big Ten) vs Temple Owls (5-4; 3-3 AAC)
12 p.m. ET, November 15, 2014--ESPN 2
Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 107,282 / University Park, PA)
Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Temple | Advantage |
Rushing Offense (ypg) |
86.6 (122) |
163.6 (68) |
Rushing Defense (ypg) |

|
Passing Offense (ypg) |
251.4 (47) |
200.7 (29) |
Passing Defense (ypg) |
Push |
Pass Efficiency |
109.3 (109)
|
121.52 (48) |
Pass Efficiency Defense |

|
Total Offense (ypg) |
338.0 (109) |
364.2 (41) |
Total Defense (ypg) |

|
Scoring Offense (ppg) |
20.3 (109) |
18.1 (10) |
Scoring Defense (ppg) |
 
|
Rushing Defense (ypg) |
85.6 (1) |
118.8 (106) |
Rushing Offense (ypg) |
  
|
Passing Defense (ypg) |
182.0 (13) |
196.7 (92) |
Passing Offense (ypg) |
 
|
Pass Efficiency Defense |
100.03 (3) |
109.92 (108) |
Pass Efficiency |
  
|
Total Defense (ypg) |
267.6 (3) |
315.4 (116) |
Total Offense (ypg) |
  
|
Scoring Defense (ppg) |
16.6 (6) |
27.6 (T-75) |
Scoring Offense (ppg) |

|
Net Punting Yds |
34.41 (111)
|
14.57 (9) |
Punt Return Yds |
  
|
Punt Return Yds |
7.0 (79) |
35.8 (93) |
Net Punting Yds |
Push |
Kickoff Return Yds |
20.3 (73) |
18.88 (31) |
Kickoff Return Defense |
 |
Kickoff Return Defense |
23.42 (110) |
19.31 (101) |
Kickoff Return Yds |
Push |
Turnover Margin |
-.33 (86)
|
.67 (T-24) |
Turnover Margin |

|
Penalty Yds/Game |
47.33 (41) |
54.56 (68) |
Penalty Yds/Game |
 |
Sacks |
2.89/gm (T-21) |
1.78/gm (T-40) |
Sacks Allowed |
Push |
Sacks Allowed |
3.89/gm (122)
|
2.22/gm (T-60)
|
Sacks |

|
Redzone Offense (%) |
80.6% (T-79)
|
69.2% (7)
|
Redzone Defense (%) |

|
Redzone Defense (%) |
74.1% (16)
|
69.7% (118) |
Redzone Offense (%) |
  
|
Redzone TD % |
35.48% |
38.46%
|
Redzone TD % Defense |
 |
Redzone TD % Defense |
48.15% |
48.48%
|
Redzone TD % |
 |
3rd Down Conv. % |
39.0% (74)
|
38.8% (65)
|
3rd Down Defense % |
Push |
3rd Down Defense % |
30.4% (8)
|
25.6% (125) |
3rd Down Conv. % |
  
|
4th Down Conv. % |
30.8% (112) |
25.0% (10) |
4th Down Defense % |
  
|
4th Down Defense % |
20.0% (7)
|
50.0% (T-53) |
4th Down Conv. % |
 |
1st Downs |
174 (95) |
186 (T-54) |
1st Downs Allowed |
 |
1st Downs Allowed |
132 (3) |
144 (120) |
1st Downs |
  
|
Time of Possession |
31:40 (29)
|
25:45 (T-122) |
Time of Possession |
 
|
Difference
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 look now, but I think we've come across a team that's worse than Penn State in offense.
Temple's defense is very legit (with Rhule at the helm, that should come as no surprise), but their offense has been sputtering this year. The Owls are a bizarro Penn State this year, very close to how PSU looks statistically--with a slightly worse defense (because, compared to the PSU D, how could you not be slightly worse?), and though their offense is scoring more points, they're putting up less yards. Special teams and turnovers also seem to be strengths of the squad in Rhule's second year.
Once again, much like last week's matchup with Indiana, if PSU can get at or near what Temple's allowing per game they should be golden and win going away--particularly on the ground, and on the scoreboard.
What do you guys think?