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Penn St. Nittany Lions (10-2; 7-2 Big Ten East) vs Washington Huskies (10-2; 7-2 Pac 12 North)
4:00 p.m. ET, December 30, 2017--FS1
University of Phoenix Stadium (Capacity: 63,400 / Glendale, AZ)
| Penn State | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Value (Nat'l Rank) | Washington | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense (ypg) | 167.4 (60) | 92.3 (1) | Rushing Defense (ypg) |
 |
| Passing Offense (ypg) | 285.8 (25) | 185.1 (21) | Passing Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Pass Efficiency | 153.51 (15) | 113.55 (23) | Pass Efficiency Defense | Push |
| Total Offense (ypg) | 453.3 (27) | 277.4 (5) | Total Defense (ypg) | Push |
| Scoring Offense (ppg) | 41.6 (7) | 14.5 (6) | Scoring Defense (ppg) | Push |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) | 119.2 (16) | 189.8 (37) | Rushing Offense (ypg) | Push |
| Passing Defense (ypg) | 210.2 (46) | 221.8 (72) | Passing Offense (ypg) |  |
| Pass Efficiency Defense | 112.96 (20) | 154.86 (14) | Pass Efficiency | Push |
| Total Defense (ypg) | 329.3 (20) | 411.7 (54) | Total Offense (ypg) | |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) | 15.5 (7) | 36.9 (16) | Scoring Offense (ppg) | Push |
| Punt Return Defense (ypr) | 4.29 (21) | 18.32 (2) | Punt Return Yds | Push |
| Punt Return Yds | 13.08 (13) | 5.38 (36) | Punt Return Defense (ypr) | Push |
| Net Punting Yds | 39.81 (29) | 38.70 (46) | Net Punting Yds | Push |
| Kickoff Return Yds | 22.78 (29) | 19.05 (27) | Kickoff Return Defense | Push |
| Kickoff Return Defense | 19.71 (42) | 23.48 (23) | Kickoff Return Yds | Push |
| Turnover Margin | +1.17 (T - 4) | +.92 (12) | Turnover Margin | Push |
| Passes Had Intercepted | 8 (T - 37) | 13 (T - 39) | Passes Intercepted | Push |
| Passes Intercepted | 10 (T - 65) | 5 (T - 5) | Passes Had Intercepted |
|
| Penalty Yds/Game | 39.17 (14) | 35.25 (3) | Penalty Yds/Game | Push |
| Sacks | 3.17 (9) | 1.33 (T - 22) | Sacks Allowed | Push |
| Sacks Allowed | 2.33 (T - 84) | 3.08 (11) | Sacks |
|
| Tackles for Loss (tpg) | 7.1 (T - 27) | 5.5 (T - 45) | Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | Push |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) | 7.25 (118) | 6.8 (T - 35) | Tackles for Loss (tpg) |
|
| Redzone Offense (%) | 91.11% (18) | 88.0% (105) | Redzone Defense (%) |
|
| Redzone Defense (%) | 83.3% (66) | 82.8% (79) | Redzone Offense (%) | Push |
| Redzone TD % | 78.57% | 52.00% | Redzone TD % Defense | Push |
| Redzone TD % Defense | 53.33% | 65.52% | Redzone TD % | |
| 3rd Down Conv. % | 44.8% (22) | 34.2% (33) | 3rd Down Defense % | Push |
| 3rd Down Defense % | 33.5% (27) | 44.5% (24) | 3rd Down Conv. % | Push |
| 4th Down Conv. % | 53.8% (62) | 63.2% (110) | 4th Down Defense % | |
| 4th Down Defense % | 45.8% (T - 43) | 54.5% (58) | 4th Down Conv. % | Push |
| 1st Downs | 271 (T - 42) | 194 (T - 12) | 1st Downs Allowed |
|
| 1st Downs Allowed | 212 (T - 21) | 257 (T - 57) | 1st Downs | |
| Time of Possession | 29:53 (66) | 28:53 (88) | Time of Possession | Push |
| Strength of Schedule | 58 | 91 | Strength of Schedule | |
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:
When I compile these statistics, I look back at previous charts. In doing that for this Just the Stats post, a couple things stood out to me: while Penn State’s defensive statistics have taken a dip since the meat of the schedule (the three week stretch of Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State, which saw the Lions drop two of three by a combined four points), it hasn’t been significantly such - and other numbers, like the passing stats and the Nittany Lions’ performance on third downs, have actually significantly improved.
PSU will face the nation’s statistical best run defense - albeit one that faced one of the easiest schedules in FBS for the second year in a row - so this may be another game in which Trace McSorley will have to use the pass game in order to get Saquon Barkley going in likely his last game in the Basic Blues.
On paper, this looks to be a dead heat, even matchup. But Penn State is going in absent two coordinators (offensive guru Joe Moorhead having taken special teams coordinator Charles Huff with him down to Starksville) - and this will be the first test on how Ricky Rahne can function as the new offensive coordinator. One new wrinkle? Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens’ inclusion on the depth chart in the “lion” position. Here’s hoping they utilize him in more creative packages to throw off a very good Husky pass rush and defensive front - and a potential sign of what we may see next season.