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Penn St. Nittany Lions (7-0; 4-0 Big Ten East) vs Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1; 4-0 Big Ten East)
3:30 p.m. ET, October 28, 2017--FOX
Ohio Stadium (Capacity: 104,944 / Columbus, OH)
| Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Ohio State | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 173.4 (27) | 109.6 (14) | Rushing Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 289.9 (25) | 195.7 (37) | Passing Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Pass Efficiency | 154.68 (18) | 114.90 (33) | Pass Efficiency Defense | Push |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 463.3 (27) | 305.3 (16) | Total Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 40.0 (16) | 15.4 (10) | Scoring Defense (ppg) | Push |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 115.3 (17) | 250.6 (18) | Rushing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 167.6 (7) | 326.7 (12) | Passing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 94.02 (1) | 171.33 (4) | Pass Efficiency | Push |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 282.9 (9) | 577.3 (3) | Total Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 9.6 (1) | 47.3 (2) | Scoring Offense (ppg) | Push |
| Punt Return Defense (ypr) | 0.88 (7) | 3.09 (118) | Punt Return Yds |
|
| Punt Return Yds | 15.11 (14) | 0.00 (T - 3) | Punt Return Defense (ypr) | Push |
| Net Punting Yds | 42.93 (9) | 41.6 (15) | Net Punting Yds | Push |
| Kickoff Return Yds | 29.30 (3) | 17.84 (19) | Kickoff Return Defense | Push |
| Kickoff Return Defense | 19.57 (53) | 30.62 (2) | Kickoff Return Yds |
|
| Turnover Margin | +1.71 (2) | +1.00 (T - 15) | Turnover Margin | Push |
| Passes Had Intercepted | 5 (T - 47) | 7 (T - 44) | Passes Intercepted | Push |
| Passes Intercepted | 9 (T - 20) | 2 (T - 4) | Passes Had Intercepted | Push |
| Penalty Yds/Game | 34.57 (6) | 74.43 (106) | Penalty Yds/Game |
|
| Sacks | 3.43 (4) | 1.71 (T - 42) | Sacks Allowed | |
| Sacks Allowed | 2.57 (T - 94) | 2.63 (T - 32) | Sacks |
|
| Tackles for Loss (tpg) | 8.4 (4) | 4.14 (T - 13) | Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | Push |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | 8.14 (124) | 8.3 (T - 5) | Tackles for Loss (tpg) |
|
| Redzone Offense (%) | 84.4% (62) | 64.7% (6) | Redzone Defense (%) |
|
| Redzone Defense (%) | 66.7% (8) | 85.7% (54) | Redzone Offense (%) | |
| Redzone TD % | 69.05% | 58.82% | Redzone TD % Defense | Push |
| Redzone TD % Defense | 50.00% | 45.24% | Redzone TD % | Push |
| 3rd Down Conv. % | 39.3% (68) | 29.9% (17) | 3rd Down Defense % |
|
| 3rd Down Defense % | 34.5% (41) | 49.4% (10) | 3rd Down Conv. % | |
| 4th Down Conv. % | 55.6% (T - 58) | 50.0% (T - 58) | 4th Down Defense % | Push |
| 4th Down Defense % | 57.1% (T - 88) | 64.3% (T - 27) | 4th Down Conv. % |
|
| 1st Downs | 154 (T - 56) | 119 (T - 25) | 1st Downs Allowed | |
| 1st Downs Allowed | 118 (22) | 209 (2) | 1st Downs | Push |
| Time of Possession | 29:31 (73) | 28:22 (95) | Time of Possession | Push |
| Strength of Schedule | 42 | 29 | Strength of Schedule | Push |
Difference >25 in National Rank =
Difference >50 in National Rank =
Difference >75 in National Rank =
Difference >100 in National Rank =
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+.
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:
Yep, not too many surprises in this data; this is two of the best teams in the nation going up against each other. The majority of the head-to-head stats are pushes, and Penn State can’t convert on 3rd and longs - and gives up a ton of negative yardage plays.
The one surprise for me in compiling these statistics was Ohio State’s punt return defense - but no one has returned a punt against them this year (!!!). Look for that to change this week; how good Deandre Thompkins will be able to be in special teams is unknown based on the play of that unit to date.
What say you all?