Preview: No. 6 Penn State at Purdue

Kickoff: Sat., Oct. 4, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN

Weather Forecast: Cool/Mild, Mostly Sunny.

Host: Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 2-2 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: Lost at Notre Dame 38-21
Confirmed Injuries: Saf. Frank Duong (knee - doubtful), TE Kyle Adams
(knee - doubtful), LB Jason Werner (back - out), RB Jaycen Taylor (ACL
- out season)
Key Players: (offense) QB Curtis Painter, LT Garret Miller; (defense)
DTs Mike Neal/Ryan Baker, LB Anthony Heygood
Head Coach: Joe Tiller, 12th season at Purdue, 85-56; 18th year
overall, 124-86-1
Season Statistics:
Offense - 125.8 rush/278.2 pass/30.2 points per game
Defense - 194.5 rush/244.8 pass/36.2 points per game
TO Margin - (-1)

How PU will win -- Big plays on offense. Purdue has a good offense. Not great, maybe compared to the Boilermaker offenses the Big Ten is used to, but still good. They can put up points against Penn State, mainly using the pass to set up the run. All Curtis Painter has to do is nail a few first-down passes, getting the PSU secondary to back out of the box. Illinois used the pass game effectively, and actually had its biggest plays from the wide receivers. Ball control. The load will rest on Kory Sheets to keep the chains moving. Without a decent run game this week, Painter's arm can't beat Penn State. But ball control doesn't mean only the offense has to keep the ball. The Purdue defense has to force a few three-and-outs from Penn State, especially early in the game to set a good tone. If anything, it will get the crowd riled up.

Visitor: Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 5-0 (1-0, Big Ten)
Last Game: Won vs. No. 21 Illinois 38-24
Confirmed Injuries: DE Jerome Hayes (knee - out), C Doug Klopacz (knee
- out), LB Sean Lee (knee - out), G Mike Lucian (ankle - probable), WR
Jordan Norwood (leg - probable), DE Devon Still (ankle - out), Saf
Nick Sukay (foot - out)
Key Players: (offense) WR Derrick Williams, QBs Daryll Clark;
(defense) Saf. Anthony Scirrotto, DE Maurice Evans
Head Coach: Joe Paterno, 43rd season, 377-125-3
Season Statistics:
Offense - 267.6 rush/247.6 pass/49.8 points per game
Defense - 79.6 rush/172.6 pass/12.8 points per game
TO Margin - (+4)

How PSU will win -- The offensive line. Penn State's front has been the biggest key to averaging 49 points per game. Daryll Clark has three weeks to throw, and the running backs rarely get touched before reaching the linebackers. It will be up to the PSU OL to neutralize the PU tackles in the middle, and prevent any penetration. Fortunately for PSU, the middle of the line has been unstoppable. The defensive line. On the opposite side of the ball, but still up front, Penn State's defensive line is whole again. Last week, Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma were still working themselves back into real playing time. They will be full strength this week. Putting pressure on Painter and the PU pass game will help create down-and-distance situation beneficial to PSU. The line has been fantastic so far, considering all the losses, but was exposed a bit against the Illini. But Painter is definitely not Juice Williams.

What will happen -- Purdue will have trouble getting into a rhythm against Penn State, but will still move the ball. The lack of consistency will haunt PU all game long, as PSU will answer every score with one of its own. Eventually, Purdue won't be able to keep pace with Penn State, forcing the Boilermakers to move into come-back mode. Once that happens, the Penn State defense will pin its ears back, and tee off on Purdue's one-dimensional aerial attack. This game will be a good, quality Big Ten game, not a blow out. Both teams will come out to play, but one is just better than the other. It's that simple this week.

Prediction: No. 6 Penn State, 37 - Purdue, 28