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O T H E R M A T C H U P S THE LOWDOWNIllinois has an excellent kicker in Chase McLaughlin. The senior has converted 7 of 8 field goal attempts this season, including three makes of 50 or more yards. In addition, Blake Hayes is averaging a very impressive 46.1 yards per punt. The stars of Penn State's special teams units are punter Blake Gillikin and return specialists Hamler and DeAndre Thompkins. Gillikin is averaging 43.8 yards per punt. Hamler has averaged 35.4 yards per kickoff return, while Thompkins has averaged 21.5 yards per punt return. Jake Pinegar has converted all 22 of his extra point attempts and has made 1 of 2 field goal tries. // EDGE Penn State SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWNThe 9 p.m. kickoff time and short practice week will pose challenges for both teams, but Illinois has a slight edge in that it doesn't have to travel. The Illini haven't been drawing very well lately; the largest crowd to see them so far this season was 39,252 for a 34-14 win over Western Illinois. They'll surely do better than that this weekend, but it's reasonable to wonder just how big their home field advantage will be. // EDGEEven THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN Former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith was hired in March 2016 to revive an Illinois program that had suffered four consecutive losing seasons. He went 5-19 in his first two seasons, and some of the excitement that greeted his arrival has ebbed. Now that year three is under way, Illini fans are eager for signs of progress. Franklin was in a similar situation a few years ago, but the Lions responded with a sharp upturn. Since falling to Michigan in their 2016 Big Ten opener, they have gone 23-3. // EDGE Penn State COACHING STAFF S E P T E M B E R   1 9 ,   2 0 1 8 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 completed 18 of 30 passes for 223 yards before getting hurt, while Rivers has completed 29 of 45 passes with two TDs and no interceptions. Illinois' top pass-catcher is WR Ricky Smalling with seven receptions for 110 yards. The Illini have been hurt by injuries here, too, as senior WR Mike Dudek suffered a season-ending knee injury against Kent State. The Lions rank fiBh in the Big Ten in pass defense and have allowed only three TD passes through three games. Amani Oruwariye has four pass breakups and two interceptions. One major reason why Penn State's pass defense excelled against Pitt and Kent State was because of the pressure it was able to generate up front. The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten with 13 sacks, including three by Miller. // KEY MATCHUP Smalling will take on Oruwariye, while Lowe will try to keep Miller out of the backfield. Illinois has had trouble protecting its quarterbacks. The Illini have given up nine sacks already this season, the most in the Big Ten. // EDGE Penn State

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