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Just the Stats: Penn State vs Temple

The losing streak is finally over, but don't look now--Penn State alum Matt Rhule brings his Temple Owls into State College, and they've got an upset on their minds.

John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

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) Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Passing Defense (ypg) 182.0 (13) 196.7 (92) Passing Offense (ypg) Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Pass Efficiency Defense 100.03 (3) 109.92 (108) Pass Efficiency Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Total Defense (ypg) 267.6 (3) 315.4 (116) Total Offense (ypg) Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Scoring Defense (ppg) 16.6 (6) 27.6 (T-75) Scoring Offense (ppg) Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
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 Penn_state_logo_medium
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 (%) Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Redzone TD % 35.48% 38.46%
Redzone TD % Defense
Redzone TD % Defense 48.15% 48.48%
Redzone TD % Penn_state_logo_medium
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. % Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
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. % Penn_state_logo_medium
1st Downs 174 (95) 186 (T-54) 1st Downs Allowed
1st Downs Allowed 132 (3) 144 (120) 1st Downs Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium
Time of Possession 31:40 (29)
25:45 (T-122) Time of Possession Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium

Difference

Difference >25 in National Rank = Penn_state_logo_medium

Difference >50 in National Rank = Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium

Difference >75 in National Rank = Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium

Difference >100 in National Rank = Penn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_mediumPenn_state_logo_medium

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?