Penn State-Purdue Matchups: How big is the Nittany Lions' edge?

By Greg Pickel

Two teams moving in opposite directions meet on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. The latest College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday night, again confirmed that Penn State controls its own destiny when it comes to making the 12-team field. Purdue, meanwhile, is 1-8 and can not make a bowl game. Head coach James Franklin’s side is a 28.5-point favorite over Ryan Walter’s bunch ahead of a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.

“Elite defense, and they’re an elite program, elite team that is competing for a playoff berth,” Walters said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach Franklin and what he’s been able to do in his career. His teams always show up and play clean. He comes up with good ideas. I think offensively they get really creative, getting in unique formations week to week, and they’re good about getting the ball to who they want to get the ball to. Obviously the tight end is the elite of the elites. He’s very versatile, tall, long, has great ball skills, can run. He’s physical.

“On defense, they fly around, they pose problems up front. It’s one of the better defensive lines in the country. I think their linebackers are very athletic and get sideline to sideline, and their secondary plays well together, and they don’t give up explosive plays. They look like a top-5 team when you turn on the tape.”

We break down the matchups below.

When Penn State is on offense

Running back Nicholas Singleton’s status for Saturday is up in the air, but truly, whether or not he plays is immaterial to the eventual outcome. Any of the Lions’ scholarship running backs should find success against a Boilermaker’s run defense that allows a Big Ten worst 199.9 yards per game. Expect freshman Corey Smith to see plenty of action behind Singleton, if he plays, and certainly Kaytron Allen. The Lions will have an advantage in the trenches from start to finish. It should be able to put up healthy rushing stats this week after a few contests where the ground game failed to thrive at a level similar to the way it had earlier in the year.

Of course, if Andy Kotelnicki chooses to go with a pass-heavy approach early, that should be successful, too. The Purdue pass defense is giving up 246.4 yards per game, which is third-worst in the conference. Saturday’s home team has 18 sacks on the year, which ranks 67th nationally, but just 44 tackles for loss, which ranks 97th. Purdue’s five turnovers gained on the year ranks No. 131 out of 134 teams in the country. And, its its allowing opponents to convert third downs at a 46.79-percent clip, which ranks No. 125.

We usually try to find nice things to say here, even if the edge is clear. But there just isn’t much to praise here.

EDGE: Penn State

When the Nittany Lions are on defense

A 49-point explosion against Illinois earlier this year offered some hope that things might be going in the right direction for the Purdue offense. That came two weeks after Walters fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. However, since then, the Boilermakers have unsurprisingly been shut out by Oregon and Ohio State and managed just two touchdowns against Northwestern. The test does not get any easier on Saturday with Penn State’s No. 4 total defense rolling into town. Hudson Card leads the way under center and Purdue will mix in backup Ryan Browne as a run/pass threat. Tight end Max Klare is the featured option in the passing game. He has 32 receptions for 475 yards and three scores. Only one receiver has more than 20 receptions on the year. Devin Mockobee is leading the backfield with 104 carries for 612 yards and four scores.

Purdue has turned it over 12 times on offense, which means it won’t be surprising to see Penn State create one or two. The defensive line should feast, as the Boilermakers have allowed 24 sacks, which is the third-most in the Big Ten. We’re not calling for a shut out, as a lot of young players will see the field Saturday. But, we will be shocked if the Nittany Lions’ starters surrender any points.

EDGE: Penn State

Odds and ends

–Purdue is holding a field goal kicker competition this week. That is, of course, no place a team wants to be in mid-November. Spencer Porath, who is 7 of 11 on the season but just 2 for 5 over the last three weeks, will try to hold off Ben Freehill.

–The Boilermakers do a somewhat decent job covering kickoffs and punts. Perhaps Penn State could get something going there, but the season-long evidence to date suggests it may not be much. Though, the Lions’ improvements in both areas over the last two weeks makes it worth watching.

–No Big Ten team has allowed more 20-plus yard opponent plays from scrimmage than Purdue. It’s 50 ranks No. 117 nationally.

Final word on Penn State-Purdue

As long as Penn State does not have a sleepy and sloppy start, it’s hard to imagine this game ever being competitive. The Lions have a clear talent edge at all positions and will have it at most spots even when the backups eventually come in. This is the definition of a get in and get out healthy trip while, the Lions hope, building confidence and depth.