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KEY MATCHUPS | P E N N   S T A T E  V S .  I N D I A N A WHEN PENN STATE PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. INDIANA RUN DEFENSE PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. INDIANA PASS DEFENSE INDIANA PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE THE BALL PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 197.0YPG, 4.8 YPC INDIANA RUN DEFENSE 247.8 YPG, 5.2 YPC THE LOWDOWN During its past two games, Penn State has developed an effective three-headed monster at running back with Zach Zwinak, who averages 74.2 yards per game, Bill Belton (63.2) and Akeel Lynch (65.8). While the Nittany Lions might have one of the two most balanced offenses in the Big Ten, Indiana has the 117thrated rushing defense in the country, which is worst in the conference. Penn State should be able to control the line of scrimmage and the tempo of the game. If Indiana allows that to happen, Penn State will have a big edge in this department. EDGE Penn State PENN STATE PASSING GAME 264.2 YPG, 12.9 YPC INDIANA PASS DEFENSE 215.5 YPG, 11.6 YPC THE LOWDOWN Christian Hackenberg enters the fifth game of his career as one of the top three freshman quar- terbacks in the country, and, according to Chuck Long and Howard Griffith of the Big Ten Network, no other QB in the conference played better in September. Allen Robinson, Jesse James, Kyle Carter and Brandon Felder will create big mismatch problems for Indiana, whose defense allows 55 percent of the opponents' pass attempts to be completed. Take away the soggy game vs. Kent State, and Hackenberg is completing 72 perecent of his passes. Not a favorable matchup for the Hoosiers. EDGE Penn State WHEN INDIANA INDIANA RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE HAS BY PHIL GROSZ HAS THE BALL INDIANA RUNNING GAME 198.8 YPG, 5.2 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 101.8 YPG, 3.0 YPC THE LOWDOWN Indiana has made a marked improvement with its running game since the 2012 season. Its go-to running back is sophomore Tevin Coleman, who is averaging 96.5 yards per game with an average of 6.9 yards per carry. He has also rushed for six touchdowns. Next to Ohio State and the Nittany Lions, Indiana has the most balanced offensive attack in the conference. Excluding the game against Central Florida, Penn State's rush defense has been one of the best in the conference led by defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and middle linebacker Glenn Carson. It'll be close, but it's a slight uptick for Penn State here. EDGE Penn State INDIANA PASSING GAME 348.5 YPG, 11.6 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 183.2 YPG, 10.3 YPC THE LOWDOWN Led by sophomore quarterback Nate Sudfeld, Indiana has the 11th-rated pass offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sudfeld has a group of five superior receivers led by junior Cody Latimore, senior Kofi Hughes and junior Shane Wynn. The Hoosiers also have dual-threat QB Tre Roberson who brings an extra dimension to their unpredictable offense. While it may not always equate to victories, Indiana's passing game can score points. There isn't a defense in the Big Ten that can completely shut it down, including Penn State. EDGE Indiana OTHER MATCHUPS SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWN Sam Ficken has become the top place-kicker in the Big Ten after connecting on 15 of his past 16 field goal attempts. Jesse Della Valle and Eugene Lewis give Penn State two solid punt and kickoff returners, respecitvely, but the Lions punt coverage team will be on special alert. The Hoosiers have the second-best punt return unit in the conference. EDGE Even THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN Ryan Keiser broke his hand against Kent State and won't play on Saturday against the Hoosiers, but there is an excellent chance that linebacker Mike Hull will return to action against Indiana. The Hoosiers could have starting offensive tackle Peyton Eckert in the lineup. He missed Indiana's first four games of the season. EDGE Penn State COACHING STAFF THE LOWDOWN Kevin Wilson has done a superb job at Indiana, especially when you consider the players that he recruited on offense who fit his system. However, the Hoosiers' 2-2 nonconference record was a major disappointment. Bill O'Brien has a superior coaching staff, and they escaped the nonconference schedule with just one loss. EDGE Penn State O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3 3 BL UEW H I T EON L I N E. COM

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