Penn State at Rutgers College Football Picks and Predictions 11/17/2018

Saturday, November 17, 2018

High Point Solutions Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to High Point Solutions Stadium to play the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Penn State as 26.5 point favorites. The Nittany Lions are 6-4-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 7-3-0. The Scarlet Knights are 5-5-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 4-6-0.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 7-3-0 against the over/under

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 6-4-0 against the spread

Important Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 4-6-0 against the over/under

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 5-5-0 against the spread

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

11/11/18 WR Juwan Johnson Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Rutgers
11/11/18 QB Trace McSorley Knee injured last game, is probable Saturday vs Rutgers
09/25/18 RB Mark Allen Undisclosed is out for season
08/28/18 LB Manny Bowen Left Team is out for season

Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Injuries

11/11/18 LB CJ Onyechi Suspension is questionable Saturday vs Penn State
10/31/18 LB Izaia Bullock Dismissed is out for season
09/25/18 DB Blessuan Austin Knee is out for season
09/02/18 DL Tijuan Mason Leg is out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 26th in the country in points scored with 357. They have run 680 plays this year for 4,205 yards, which ranks them 78th in Division 1 in total offense. The Nittany Lions average 6.2 yards per play, which is 38th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 210 1st downs this season, ranking them 62nd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Penn State has run for 2,053 yards as a unit, which ranks 35th in college football. They've run 396 times, averaging 5.2 yards per rush as a unit. The Nittany Lions have been penalized on offense 52 times for 461 yards so far this year, which has them 96th in the country in penalties. Trace McSorley has passed for 1,872 yards this year. He's completed 147 throws while attempting 270 passes for a completion percentage of 54.4%. His quarterback rating this season is 124.9. He averages 7.1 adjusted yards per throw and 6.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Penn State is 44th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 230. They have given up a total of 3,766 yards on D, which is 55th in D-1. The Nittany Lions are 21st in yards per play allowed with 4.8. Opponent offenses have completed 195 throws on 362 attempts against the Penn State Nittany Lions defense this season, ranking them 89th and 118th in the nation. The Penn State pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,007 yards in the air, which is 40th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 416 attempts for 1,759 yards this season, putting them in 82nd place in the country against the run. The Nittany Lions have had 81 penalties for 715 yards on defense this year. That places them 119th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Penn State is 2nd in the country in punt returns with 29. They've totaled 259 punt return yards and average 8.9 yards per return, which is 67th in D-1. They have returned 24 kicks for 605 yards on special teams, which puts them 31st in kick return yardage. The Nittany Lions average 25 yards per kick return and they are 35th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,069. The Penn State Nittany Lions have tried 18 field goals this year and made 12, which is 48th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 67%. Penn State Nittany Lions kickers have made 96% of their extra points, going 43 for 45 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,177 yards on 52 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranks them 58th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Scarlet Knights have run for 1,313 yards as a team, which ranks 108th in college football. They've run 331 times, averaging 4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have been penalized on offense 62 times for 610 yards so far this season, which has them 60th in the country in penalties. They are 129th in the nation in points scored with 145. They have run 647 plays this season for 2,744 yards, which ranks them 121st in Division 1 in total offense. Rutgers averages 4.2 yards per play, which is 127th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 155 1st downs this year, placing them 127th overall as an offensive unit. Artur Sitkowski averages 4.3 yards per pass attempt and 1.9 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 131 passes on 265 attempts for a completion percentage of 49.4%. His quarterback rating this year is 78.5. He has thrown for 1,140 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights rush defense has allowed 412 attempts for 2,297 yards this year, putting them in 119th place in D-1 against the run. Rutgers has committed 69 penalties for 644 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 105th in college football. They are 107th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 343. They have surrendered a total of 4,186 yards on D, which is 92nd in the country. The Scarlet Knights are ranked 96th in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Opposing offenses have completed 161 passes on 273 attempts against the Rutgers defense this season, placing them 25th and 30th in Division 1. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights pass defense has also given up a total of 1,889 yards through the air, which is 28th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have attempted 11 field goals this season and made 8, which is 100th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 73%. Rutgers kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 17 for 17 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,752 yards on 65 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That places them 51st in Division 1 in punting average. Rutgers is ranked 118th in the nation in punt returns with 8. They've accumulated 41 punt return yards and average 5.1 yards per return, which is 112th in college football. They have returned 27 kicks for 510 yards on special teams, ranking 51st in kick return yardage. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights average 19 yards per kick return and they are 127th in the country in all-purpose yards with 3,295.

Who will win tonight's Nittany Lions/Scarlet Knights college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Nittany Lions -26.5

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