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Just the Stats: No. 18 Penn State vs No. 19 Iowa

This is gonna be a close one.

NCAA Football: Iowa at Penn State Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn St. Nittany Lions (5-2; 2-2 Big Ten East) vs Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1; 2-1 Big Ten West)

3:30 p.m. ET, October 27, 2018--ESPN

Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,579 / University Park, PA)

Tableizer using codebeautify.org
Penn State Value (Nat'l Rank) Value (Nat'l Rank) Iowa Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg) 240.7 (13) 79.6 (T - 2) Rushing Defense (ypg) Push
Passing Offense (ypg) 239.9 (58) 178.6 (18) Passing Defense (ypg) Iowa logo
Pass Efficiency 140.68 (54) 117.06 (35) Pass Efficiency Defense Push
Total Offense (ypg) 480.6 (15) 258.1 (3) Total Defense (ypg) Push
Scoring Offense (ppg) 42.6 (T - 9) 14.1 (5) Scoring Defense (ppg) Push
Rushing Defense (ypg) 165.1 (74) 165.4 (75) Rushing Offense (ypg) Push
Passing Defense (ypg) 226.9 (68) 231.9 (68) Passing Offense (ypg) Push
Pass Efficiency Defense 113.34 (28) 146.86 (40) Pass Efficiency Push
Total Defense (ypg) 392.0 (71) 397.3 (75) Total Offense (ypg) Push
Scoring Defense (ppg) 22.0 (36) 30.6 (56) Scoring Offense (ppg) Push
Punt Return Defense (ypr) 3.08 (T - 11) 6.75 (85) Punt Return Yds new PSU logo new PSU logo
Punt Return Yds 10.61 (44) 3.50 (14) Punt Return Defense (ypr) Iowa logo
Net Punting Yds 38.97 (46) 39.13 (44) Net Punting Yds Push
Kickoff Return Yds 26.83 (10) 18.00 (T - 24) Kickoff Return Defense Push
Kickoff Return Defense 20.85 (70) 30.89 (1) Kickoff Return Yds Iowa logo Iowa logo
Turnover Margin +0.29 (T - 43) +.43 (T - 37) Turnover Margin Push
Passes Had Intercepted 3 (T - 10) 9 (T - 15) Passes Intercepted Push
Passes Intercepted 7 (T - 34) 7 (T - 84) Passes Had Intercepted new PSU logo new PSU logo
Penalty Yds/Game 51.00 (43) 52.71 (49) Penalty Yds/Game Push
Sacks 3.57 (T - 3) .86 (T - 10) Sacks Allowed Push
Sacks Allowed 1.86 (T - 50) 3.14 (T - 13) Sacks Iowa logo
Tackles for Loss (tpg) 8.40 (T - 9) 4.29 (T - 14) Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) Push
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) 5.14 (T - 31) 5.10 (T - 99) Tackles for Loss (tpg) new PSU logo new PSU logo
Redzone Offense (%) 97.0% (8) 81.3% (T - 53) Redzone Defense (%) new PSU logo
Redzone Defense (%) 73.7% (T - 17) 87.5% (T - 38) Redzone Offense (%) Push
Redzone TD % 81.82% 68.75% Redzone TD % Defense new PSU logo
Redzone TD % Defense 68.42% 65.63% Redzone TD % Push
3rd Down Conv. % 36.8% (92) 36.8% (49) 3rd Down Defense % Iowa logo
3rd Down Defense % 32.8% (30) 49.1% (11) 3rd Down Conv. % Push
4th Down Conv. % 40.0% (T - 108) 0.00% (T - 1) 4th Down Defense % Iowa logo Iowa logo Iowa logo Iowa logo
4th Down Defense % 46.7% (T - 46) 66.7% (T - 20) 4th Down Conv. % Iowa logo
1st Downs 160 (T - 49) 108 (T - 8) 1st Downs Allowed Iowa logo
1st Downs Allowed 159 (89) 144 (82) 1st Downs Push>
Time of Possession 28 (103) 33 (10) Time of Possession Iowa logo Iowa logo Iowa logo
Strength of Schedule 44 76 Strength of Schedule new PSU logo

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+.

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 feels like the worst matchup, statistically, all season.

Iowa’s strengths are Penn State’s strengths, for the most part - and weaknesses are against the weaknesses. So what does that portend for this week?

Well, likely not so much - Michigan State was the number one rush defense in the land before facing the Nittany Lions, and after the game their yards per game more than doubled. But they won the game.

If the Penn State coaches give the ball to Miles Sanders, he should be able to get his yards - but will that be enough? This is the best-coached-special teams PSU will have faced all year, and they need to be on guard. Here’s hoping they snap back at home before a tough matchup in Michigan.