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KEY MATCHUPS P E N N   S T A T E  V S .  P U R D U E WHEN PENN STATE | HAS BY PHIL GROSZ THE BALL PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUN DEFENSE PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 167.0 YPG, 4.1 YPC PURDUE RUN DEFENSE 223.6 YPG, 5.3 YPC PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. PURDUE PASS DEFENSE PENN STATE PASSING GAME 260.2 YPG, 12.5 YPC PURDUE PASS DEFENSE 214.9 YPG, 11.6 YPC THE LOWDOWN In the last two games Bill Belton rushed for 248 yards on 43 carries, and Zach Zwinak has rushed for 177 yards on 32 carries – despite the Nittany Lions only posting a 1-1 record. Considering they've rushed for 440 yards in the last two games, though, their rushing attack is performing the best it has all season. That should mean Belton and Zwinak could both rush for 100 or more yards against Purdue. The Boilermakers have the 11th-ranked rushing defense and scoring defense (37.2 PPG) in the conference and have allowed 21 rushing touchdowns. Penn State's offensive line should dominate Purdue's front seven. EDGE Penn State THE LOWDOWN Penn State's pass offense still ranks third in the Big Ten following its disappointing performance against Minnesota (14 for 25 for 163 yards). Christian Hackenberg is still the second leading passer in the Big Ten and Penn State should have the edge here despite the Boilermakers' fourth-rated pass defense. Allen Robinson is the conference's best receiver. The Boilermaker's defense has totaled eight interceptions and this unit is lead by senior cornerback Ricardo Allen, who is an all-Big Ten candidate. Allen guarding Robinson is a matchup to monitor closely. EDGE Penn State WHEN PURDUE PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE HAS THE BALL PURDUE RUNNING GAME 68.1 YPG YPG, 2.4 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 155.4 YPG, 4.0 YPC THE LOWDOWN If there ever was a game in which the Nittany Lions' defensive line should dominate, it's against Purdue. The Boilermakers' rushing attack ranks last in the Big Ten. In nine games Purdue has rushed for 613 yards and posted just three rushing TDs – the program's worst rushing total through nine games in over 15 years. Akeem Hunt is the Boilermakers' leading rusher. He's totaled 325 yards on 93 carries and averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Penn State's defense allows 155.4 yards per game, but DaQuan Jones and company will be looking to build upon that number this week. EDGE Penn State PURDUE PASSING GAME 191.0 YPG, 10.7 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 232.7 YPG, 11.8 YPC THE LOWDOWN Penn State's pass defense might have had its worst performance of the season in the first half vs. Minnesota when it surrendered 165 yards. Still, Purdue has no advantage here. The Boilermakers' freshman QB Danny Etling has started the last five games and completed 48.1 percent of his passes for 819 yards, four TDs and five picks. Hunt is Purdue's leading receiver with 33 catches for 313 yards and two TD catches. He's averaging 9.5 yards per catch. The Boilermakers' big-play receiver is freshman DeAngelo Yancey. Yancey has 17 catches for 338 yards and one TD. He averages 19.9 yards per catch. EDGE Even OTHER MATCHUPS SPECIAL TEAMS THIS 'N' THAT COACHING STAFF THE LOWDOWN Purdue has one of the top punt and kickoff return games in the Big Ten. Hunt averages 26.1 yards per kickoff return, one of which he returned 99 yards to the house for a touchdown. Sophomore Frankie Williams has also been solid, averaging 19.8 yards per punt return. PSU's Sam Ficken has converted on 13 of 18 field goal attempts with his longest being 54 yards. It's close, but give Purdue the edge here. EDGE Purdue THE LOWDOWN Penn State caught a real break last week when linebacker Mike Hull went down, clutching his knee. But it was just a scare in the first quarter vs. Minnesota and it didn't turn out to be a serious injury. Ben Kline wasn't as fortunate. The sophomore linebacker tore his pectoral muscle and will miss the remainder of the season. Linebacker U's depth just took another hit. EDGE Purdue THE LOWDOWN Purdue first year head coach Darrell Hazel and his team have struggled this season. Going into Saturday's game with Penn State, Purdue has posted a 1-8 record and hasn't beaten a school that plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It's only win was a 20-14 nailbiter over Indiana State. After a succesful stint at Kent State last season, Hazel has struggled with the Boilermakers. EDGE Penn State N O V E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 3 BL UEW HI T EON L I N E. COM

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