Penn State at Northwestern College Football Picks & Predictions 10/7/2017
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Ryan Field
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
The Northwestern Wildcats host the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ryan Field on Saturday, October 7, 2017. The opening line for this game has Penn State as 14 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 55.5. The Wildcats have an over/under record of 2-2-0 and they are 2-2-0 against the spread. The Nittany Lions have an ATS record of 3-1-1 while their over/under record is 1-4-0.
Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends
The Penn State Nittany Lions are 1-4-0 against the over/under
The Penn State Nittany Lions are 3-1-1 against the spread
Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends
The Northwestern Wildcats are 2-2-0 against the over/under
The Northwestern Wildcats are 2-2-0 against the spread
Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries
10/01/17 TE Mike Gesicki Upper Body "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
10/01/17 DE Torrence Brown Knee "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
08/31/17 CB John Reid Knee out indefinitely
Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries
10/01/17 WR Jalen Brown Lower Body "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
10/01/17 RB Justin Jackson Leg probable Saturday vs. Penn State
10/01/17 DB Marcus McShepard Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Penn State
09/18/17 DB Brian Bullock Leg out for season
09/18/17 DB Roderick Campbell Undisclosed out for season
09/03/17 CB Keith Watkins II Knee out for season
08/31/17 DE Xavier Washington Suspension out indefinitely
08/23/17 DT Jake Saunders Undisclosed out for season
08/23/17 WR Solomon Vault Lower Body out for season
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Penn State Nittany Lions have run for 897 yards as a team, which ranks 44th in college football. They've run 169 times, averaging 5.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Nittany Lions have been penalized on offense 21 times for 202 yards so far this season, which has them 106th in the country in penalties. They are 10th in the nation in points scored with 207. They have run 342 plays this season for 2,358 yards, which ranks them 17th in Division 1 in total offense. The Nittany Lions average 6.9 yards per play, which is 17th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 108 1st downs this year, placing them 35th overall as an offensive unit. Trace McSorley averages 8.4 yards per pass attempt and 8.9 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 82 passes on 124 attempts for a completion percentage of 66.1%. His quarterback rating this year is 158.2. He has thrown for 1,037 yards this season.
Defensive Statistics
The Nittany Lions rush defense has allowed 198 attempts for 637 yards this year, putting them in 57th place in D-1 against the run. Penn State has committed 23 penalties for 209 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 42nd in college football. They are 5th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 47. They have surrendered a total of 1,446 yards on D, which is 36th in the country. The Nittany Lions are ranked 9th in yards per play allowed with 4.1. Opposing offenses have completed 84 passes on 156 attempts against the Penn State Nittany Lions defense this season, placing them 64th and 86th in Division 1. The Penn State pass defense has also given up a total of 809 yards through the air, which is 36th overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The Penn State Nittany Lions have attempted 11 field goals this season and made 5, which is 64th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 46%. Penn State Nittany Lions kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 26 for 26 this year. Their punters have totaled 978 yards on 22 punts, averaging 45 yards per punt. That places them 28th in Division 1 in punting average. Penn State is ranked 8th in the nation in punt returns with 13. They've accumulated 219 punt return yards and average 16.8 yards per return, which is 12th in college football. They have returned 9 kicks for 278 yards on special teams, ranking 51st in kick return yardage. The Nittany Lions average 31 yards per kick return and they are 8th in the country in all-purpose yards with 2,855.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Wildcats are 81st in the country in points scored with 121. They have run 295 plays this year for 1,621 yards, which ranks them 52nd in Division 1 in total offense. The Northwestern Wildcats average 5.5 yards per play, which is 84th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 91 1st downs this season, ranking them 74th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Northwestern has run for 506 yards as a unit, which ranks 109th in college football. They've run 148 times, averaging 3.4 yards per rush as a unit. Northwestern has been penalized on offense 20 times for 189 yards so far this year, which has them 111th in the country in penalties. Clayton Thorson has passed for 842 yards this year. He's completed 62 throws while attempting 97 passes for a completion percentage of 63.9%. His quarterback rating this season is 144.3. He averages 8.1 adjusted yards per throw and 8.7 yards per pass attempt.
Defensive Statistics
Northwestern is 48th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 101. They have given up a total of 1,537 yards on D, which is 46th in D-1. The Wildcats are 51st in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Opponent offenses have completed 83 throws on 146 attempts against the Northwestern defense this season, ranking them 61st and 64th in the nation. The Northwestern Wildcats pass defense has also surrendered a total of 957 yards in the air, which is 54th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 152 attempts for 580 yards this season, putting them in 46th place in the country against the run. The Wildcats have had 22 penalties for 182 yards on defense this year. That places them 26th in college football.
Special Teams Stats
Northwestern is 118th in the country in punt returns with 3. They have returned 10 kicks for 166 yards on special teams, which puts them 107th in kick return yardage. The Northwestern Wildcats average 17 yards per kick return and they are 108th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 1,789. The Wildcats have tried 4 field goals this year and made 3, which is 91st in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 75%. Northwestern kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 16 for 16 this season. Their punters have accumulated 913 yards on 20 punts, averaging 46 yards per punt. That ranks them 11th in the NCAA in punting average.
Who will win tonight's Nittany Lions/Wildcats college football game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Wildcats +14
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