Saturday’s White Out game against USC was the best offensive showing Penn State has had since Week 3. The unit was finally able to move the ball and came close to matching one of the best offenses in the Big Ten.
However, the Trojans’ defense is notably shoddy, so the Nittany Lions will have a much tougher test against Michigan this week. The Wolverines may not be having the season they hoped for as a team, but their defense is as stingy as ever before.
With Penn State heading to Ann Arbor to reignite its rivalry with Michigan, let’s look at how the offense stacks up against one of the best defenses in the nation.
Passing yards
Penn State offense: 251.2 yards per game
Michigan defense: 146.8 yards per game
Michigan’s defense is stifling and refuses to give up
any yards through the air. And Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht has yet to have a good statistical game against a good defense this season, so it will be interesting to see what gives in this game.
Points per game
Penn State offense: 30.5 points per game
Michigan defense: 15.8 points per game
Don’t let Penn State’s average fool you — most of the scoring was done early in the season against teams outside of the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions haven’t scored more than 23 points in a game since conference play began, and that streak will likely continue against Michigan.
The Big Ten rivals haven’t had trouble stopping opponents of any caliber, notably holding Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 11 in the nation at the time, to just 10 points. This will be a big test for Penn State’s offense.
Sacks
Penn State offense: 7 times sacked
Michigan defense: 12 sacks
One of the only areas Michigan struggles with is the pass rush, which bodes well for a strong Penn State offensive line. The unit has only allowed seven sacks this season and only once has it allowed multiple sacks in a game. They must keep Becht upright against a team that struggles to rush the passer.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State must prove offensive showing vs. USC was not a fluke
