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Just the Stats: Penn State at Maryland

Who would have thought a lot of our stats would improve after playing Ohio State? Not this blogger.

NCAA Football: Penn State at Maryland Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

#12 Penn St. Nittany Lions (5-3; 3-3 Big Ten East) vs Maryland Terrapins (5-3; 3-3 Big Ten East)

3:30 p.m. ET, November 6, 2021--FS1

Maryland Stadium (Capacity: 51,802 / College Park, MD)

Tableizer using codebeautify.org
Penn State Value (Nat'l Rank) Value (Nat'l Rank) Maryland Advantage
Rushing Offense (ypg) 108.1 (114) 161.0 (79) Rushing Defense (ypg)
Passing Offense (ypg) 267.0 (34) 241.85 (85) Passing Defense (ypg) new PSU logo new PSU logo
Pass Efficiency 134.23 (83) 135.2 (75) Pass Efficiency Defense Push
Total Offense (ypg) 375.1 (85) 402.5 (84) Total Defense (ypg) Push
Scoring Offense (ppg) 26.5 (78) 30.38 (96) Scoring Defense (ppg) Push
Rushing Defense (ypg) 148.4 (T - 65) 121.9 (102) Rushing Offense (ypg) new PSU logo
Passing Defense (ypg) 193.9 (25) 309.2 (15) Passing Offense (ypg) Push
Pass Efficiency Defense 103.56 (6) 154.99 (23) Pass Efficiency Push
Total Defense (ypg) 342.2 (38) 431.1 (42) Total Offense (ypg) Push
Scoring Defense (ppg) 17.0 (T - 8) 29.2 (T - 63) Scoring Offense (ppg) new PSU logo new PSU logo
Punt Return Defense (ypr) 2.38 (T - 11) 5.12 (T - 104) Punt Return Yds (ypr) new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Punt Return Yds (ypr) 6.64 (87) 6.23 (51) Punt Return Defense (ypr)
Net Punting Yds (ypp) 46.54 (2) 39.8 (59) Net Punting Yds (ypp) new PSU logo new PSU logo
Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) 14.75 (125) 26.88 (121) Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) Push
Kickoff Return Defense (ypr) 0.00 (T - 1) 17.89 (103) Kickoff Return Yds (ypr) new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Turnover Margin +.50 (T - 33) -.75 (T - 119) Turnover Margin new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Passes Had Intercepted (total) 8 (T - 90) 4 (T - 96) Passes Intercepted (total) Push
Passes Intercepted (total) 9 (T - 22) 9 (T - 99) Passes Had Intercepted (total) new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Penalty Yds/Game 54.88 (T - 65) 61.62 (T - 91) Penalty Yds/Game new PSU logo
Sacks (spg) 1.88 (T - 84) 1.88 (T - 54) Sacks Allowed (spg)
Sacks Allowed (spg) 2.12 (T - 66) 2.88 (T - 19) Sacks per (spg)
Tackles for Loss (tpg) 6.0 (33) 6.25 (T - 111) Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Tackles for Loss Allowed (tpg) 6.25 (T - 111) 5.2 (56) Tackles for Loss (tpg)
Redzone Offense (% season) 88.9% (T - 38) 78.9% (T - 37) Redzone Defense (% season) Push
Redzone Defense (% season) 69.0% (9) 77.5% (102) Redzone Offense (% season) new PSU logo new PSU logo new PSU logo
Redzone TD %( season) 55.56% 52.63% Redzone TD % Defense (season) Push
Redzone TD % Defense (season) 27.59% 55.00% Redzone TD % (season) new PSU logo new PSU logo
3rd Down Conv. % (season) 37.4% (85) 37.3% (49) 3rd Down Defense % (season)
3rd Down Defense % (season) 36.6% (T - 43) 40.6% (68) 3rd Down Conv. % (season) new PSU logo
4th Down Conv. % (season) 38.5% (T - 108) 50.0% (T -52) 4th Down Defense % (season)
4th Down Defense % (season) 58.3% (T - 84) 54.5% (T - 59) 4th Down Conv. % (season)
1st Downs (season) 164 (T - 81) 168 (T - 68) 1st Downs Allowed (season) Push
1st Downs Allowed (season) 166 (T - 59) 181 (T - 44) 1st Downs (season) Push
Time of Possession 27 (112) 29 (69) Time of Possession
Strength of Schedule 6 46 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 taken from Team Rankings.com.

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:

I didn’t remember how not great these stats were headed into last year’s matchup - a prescient sign in retrospect. This year is a little different, but mostly on the special teams-front, where Penn State’s got the decided edge.

A few of the things that stood out for me? PSU’s offense has been in the redzone 27 times (scoring touchdowns 15 of those times), versus Maryland’s 40 trips inside the 25 (when they’ve scored 22 TDs). PSU’s opponents, however, have scored only 8 touchdowns and 12 field goals in 29 redzone trips on the year (including a valiant showing in Columbus last week), while Maryland’s defense has allowed 20 touchdowns and 10 field goals in 38 redzone trips.

On the punting side, Maryland has punted 35 times to PSU’s 41 - but have also allowed 24 kickoff returns out of 36 possible. As most of you likely know if you follow this humble blogger’s predilictions, Penn State has not allowed a single kickoff return this season with 39 touchbacks.

But something that stands out to me on how fickle these numbers can be? Fourth down conversions. Both Penn State and Maryland’s defenses have faced 12 fourth downs, but PSU only stopped five of them to UM’s six stops - which results in almost a 50-team-ranking slide. This is a game of inches, indeed.

What say you all?