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Just the Stats: No. 8 Penn State at Rutgers

The Nittany Lions are on the road again, this time in New Jersey.

Rutgers v Penn State Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Penn St. Nittany Lions (8-2; 6-1 Big Ten East) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-8; 0-7 Big Ten East)

8 p.m. ET, November 19, 2016--BTN

High Point Solutions Stadium (Capacity: 52,454 / Piscataway, NJ)

Penn State Value (Nat'l Rank) Value (Nat'l Rank) Rutgers Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg) 172.8 (68) 251.3 (124) Rushing Defense (ypg) new PSU logonew PSU logo
Passing Offense (ypg) 241.6 (57) 193.2 (23) Passing Defense (ypg) 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
Pass Efficiency 144.8 (32) 145.65 (106) Pass Efficiency Defense new PSU logonew PSU logo
Total Offense (ypg) 414.4 (60) 444.5 (94) Total Defense (ypg) new PSU logo
Scoring Offense (ppg) 35.5 (31) 38.0 (116) Scoring Defense (ppg) new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Rushing Defense (ypg) 160.7 (60) 155.3 (T-88) Rushing Offense (ypg) new PSU logo
Passing Defense (ypg) 212.4 (44) 140.8 (122) Passing Offense (ypg) new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Pass Efficiency Defense 124.05 (49) 98.39 (127) Pass Efficiency new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Total Defense (ypg) 373.1 (40) 296.1 (127) Total Offense (ypg) new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Scoring Defense (ppg) 26.1 (52) 17.5 (127) Scoring Offense (ppg) new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Punt Return Defense (ypr) 7.53 (66) 7.95 (63) Punt Return Yds Push
Punt Return Yds 5.59 (92) 7.52 (64) Punt Return Defense (ypr) 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
Net Punting Yds 35.82 (99) 33.49 (125) Net Punting Yds new PSU logo
Kickoff Return Yds 19.33 (97) 22.76 (95) Kickoff Return Defense Push
Kickoff Return Defense 18.64 (27) 19.66 (89) Kickoff Return Yds new PSU logonew PSU logo
Turnover Margin +.5 (T-28) -.5 (T-102) Turnover Margin new PSU logonew PSU logo
Penalty Yds/Game 50.2 (T-46) 44.1 (18) Penalty Yds/Game 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
Sacks 3.0/gm (16) 2.4/gm (T-86) Sacks Allowed new PSU logonew PSU logo
Sacks Allowed 2.0/gm (T-57)
1.6/gm (T-98)
Sacks new PSU logo
Redzone Offense (%) 85.7% (49)
72.7% (16)
Redzone Defense (%) 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
Redzone Defense (%) 88.6% (98)
72.7% (T-121) Redzone Offense (%) Push
Redzone TD % 55.1% 65.91%
Redzone TD % Defense new PSU logo
Redzone TD % Defense 65.71% 36.36%
Redzone TD % new PSU logo
3rd Down Conv. % 28.5% (124)
39.7% (66)
3rd Down Defense % 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
3rd Down Defense % 38.6% (56)
31.9% (117) 3rd Down Conv. % new PSU logonew PSU logo
4th Down Conv. % 60.0% (35) 52.9% (70) 4th Down Defense % new PSU logo
4th Down Defense % 44.4% (T-42)
46.2% (T-83) 4th Down Conv. % new PSU logo
1st Downs 198 (91) 200 (54) 1st Downs Allowed 7233_rutgers_scarlet_knights-alternate-2001_medium
1st Downs Allowed 188 (T-35) 159 (125) 1st Downs new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo
Time of Possession 27:55 (98)
26:59 (110) Time of Possession Push
Strength of Schedule 17 4 Strength of Schedule Push

Difference

Difference >25 in National Rank = new PSU logo

Difference >50 in National Rank = new PSU logonew PSU logo

Difference >75 in National Rank = new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo

Difference >100 in National Rank = new PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logonew PSU logo

Note: All of the above rankings are taken directly from the NCAA except for strength of schedule, which is not ranked by the NCAA and instead taken from S&P (Football Outsiders).

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:

This is what it should look like when a top ten team plays a team near the bottom of the FBS. And the stats are even a little more deceiving - part of why Rutgers' pass defense is ranked so high, for example, is because teams have run all over them, so they don't have to pass much (and thus the pass yards aren't racked up).

And part of why Penn State's third down conversion rate is so horrible is that they get first downs on first or second down, rather than third.

The Nittany Lions, on paper, should dominate on all facets of the game - offense, defense, and special teams. But, as we all know from last week's chaos, anything can happen, no matter what it says on paper.