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KEY MATCHUPS P E N N   S T A T E  V S .  W I S C O N S I N WHEN PENN STATE PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. WISCONSIN RUN DEFENSE PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. WISCONSIN PASS DEFENSE HAS WISCONSIN PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE THE BY P H I L G R O S Z BALL PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 178.4 YPG, 4.1 YPC WISCONSIN RUN DEFENSE 99.5 YPG, 3.1 YPC THE LOWDOWN In their four most recent games, the Nittany Lions have rushed for 899 yards, averaged 4.5 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns on the ground. Both Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton are expected to be healthy for the season finale. But Wisconsin is third in the Big Ten in rushing defense, as opponents have had trouble adjusting to its unique 3-4-4 alignment. The Badgers are led by LB Chris Borland, a likely All-Big Ten choice who has made a team-high 92 tackles. Wisconsin's safeties are active in run support and will pose some additional challenges. For Penn State to upset the Badgers on Saturday, it must be able to run the football. EDGE Wisconsin PENN STATE PASSING GAME 251.9 YPG, 12.6 YPC WISCONSIN PASS DEFENSE 179.4 YPG, 10.8 YPC THE LOWDOWN Penn State has the third-ranked pass offense in the Big Ten, and Christian Hackenberg is the confer- ence's second-leading passer, averaging 237.8 yards per game. In junior Allen Robinson, the Lions have the Big Ten's top receiver. Hackenberg and Robinson will go up against the second-best pass defense in the Big Ten in Wisconsin. Teams have completed only 49.6 percent of their attempts against the Badgers. Freshman CB Sojourn Shelton leads the secondary with four interceptions. His matchup with Robinson should prove interesting, but Wisconsin usually plays a combination of zone coverages. EDGE Penn State WHEN WISCONSIN HAS WISCONSIN RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE | THE BALL WISCONSIN RUNNING GAME 297.8 YPG, 6.8 YPC PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE 146.2 YPG, 3.9 YPC THE LOWDOWN Wisconsin enters the game against Penn State with two of the top three rushers in the Big Ten in James White and Melvin Gordon. White has rushed for 1,281 yards, averaged 6.5 yards per carry and scored 13 rushing touchdowns. Gordon has rushed for 1,375 yards, averaged 8.2 yards per carry and scored 12 rushing TDs. Wisconsin has posted some dazzling numbers, the best of which are its average of 6.8 yards per carry and 4.1 yards after first contact. Penn State ranks sixth in the Big Ten in run defense. Senior ILB Glenn Carson is its leading tackler with 85 stops, while senior DT DaQuan Jones leads the Lions with 11.5 tackles for 42 yards in losses. EDGE Wisconsin WISCONSIN PASSING GAME 191.5 YPG, 12.2 YPC PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE 228.1 YPG, 11.4 YPC THE LOWDOWN The Badgers are very balanced on offense. Redshirt sophomore Joel Stave has completed 63 percent of his pass attempts for 2,075 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin has one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten. Abbrederis has 61 catches for 916 yards, averages 15 yards per catch and has seven TDs. In addition, White does a very good job catching the ball out of the backfield, and Jacob Pedersen is one of the top tight ends in the Big Ten. Penn State has struggled at times in pass defense, allowing opponents to complete 59.8 percent of their attempts. Jordan Lucas leads the team with three interceptions. EDGE Wisconsin OTHER MATCHUPS SPECIAL TEAMS THIS 'N' THAT COACHING STAFF THE LOWDOWN Wisconsin has one of the best kicking games in the Big Ten. The Badgers are first in the conference in kickoff returns and fourth in kickoff coverage. The only question mark on Wisconsin's specialty units involves the place-kicking position. Kyle French and Jack Russell have shared the kicking duties, and between them they have converted only 12 of 18 field goal attempts. EDGE Wisconsin THE LOWDOWN Even though Ohio State has wrapped up the Leaders Division title and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, Wisconsin has plenty to play for against Penn State. The Badgers, after all, are in contention for a Bowl Championship Series game. The Nittany Lions still have a chance to finish with a winning season, but they will not be going to a bowl game regardless of the outcome on Saturday. EDGE Wisconsin THE LOWDOWN Gary Andersen has done a terrific job in his first season as head coach at Wisconsin. Anderson previ- ously revived a struggling program at Utah State, guiding it to an 11-2 record in his fourth and final season. He's now part of an infusion of new coaching blood that promises to raise the level of play in the Big Ten. Penn State's second-year coach, Bill O'Brien, is part of that new contingent, as well. EDGE Even N O V E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 1 3 3 BL UEW HI T EON L I N E. COM

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