The Northwestern University Wildcats (1-3, 1-0 Big 10), one of the Big Ten Conference’s strongest passing offenses, head to face the No. 11 Penn State University Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0 Big 10), one of the conference’s weakest aerial defenses, at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Nittany Lions are 26-point favorites, and the total is 52.5. Northwestern is coming off a tight 17-14 loss at the hands of Miami (OH) at Ryan Field last Saturday, their third straight defeat. Ryan Hilinski was 24 of 42 for 232 yards. Evan Hull ran 21 times for 62 yards. Malik Washington caught eight passes for 81 yards. Penn State beat Central Michigan 33-14 at Beaver Stadium last Saturday. Sean Clifford threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Kaytron Allen carried 13 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. Parker Washington hauled in six receptions for 64 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since October 2017, a 31-7 win for the Nittany Lions.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Wildcats are averaging 23.0 points per game so far this season, 13th in the Big 10, and they are facing a Nittany Lions defense that has surrendered 16.8 PPG (6th). Meanwhile, Penn State has scored 38.8 points a game this season, fourth in the conference, and Northwestern is allowing 26.8 PPG (12th).The Wildcats rank as one of the nation’s top teams in passing yards per game (304.8, 20th), while they are 87th in rushing yards (141.0). The Nittany Lions are 109th in passing yards allowed per game (272.8) and 22nd against the run (94.0).Penn State is 36th in the country in passing yards per game (278.8) and 43rd in rushing (185.8), while the Wildcats are allowing 229.5 passing yards (74th) and 160.8 rushing yards per game (91st).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through four games, Hilinski has thrown for five touchdowns (3 INT) and 298.5 yards per game to lead Northwestern in passing. Hull leads the team in rushing with an average of 92.5 yards a game over four games. He’s also been integral to the passing game, leading the team in total receiving yards (77.8 yards a game). He has three touchdowns on the ground. Clifford has eight passing touchdowns (1 INT) with 222.5 yards per game through four games to lead Penn State. In two home games this season, he has thrown for four TDs and an average of 215.0 yards. Nicholas Singleton has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 91.8 yards a game through four games. He has four touchdowns. P. Washington has been the primary target in the Nittany Lions’ aerial attack, averaging 53.0 yards per game through four appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Penn State (-3000)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
